Right...and sometime after, max offer or not, I'm confident an extension is agreed to.
By the way, would you expect the revised CBA to make some exception for previously agreed upon contracts as to how it relates to the overall cap situation? Seems to me that teams would be inherently penalized for coming to long-term agreements with their players prior to 2011 if the CBA brings max salaries and lower caps.
If the owners win and get something like a hard cap, it will have to be phased in over a period of years. Too many teams way over the cap now.
Now there have been reports that the owners will try to retroactively reduce the amounts of existing contracts to bring them into compliance with new rules. If they push for that, there may not be a 2011-12 season at all. If you want to be sure you see Tim Duncan play again, buy a ticket for a game this season.
I agree with the article.
It rarely, if ever, get's mentioned, but we really haven't seen Ginobili/Parker at their best at the same time. Since Ginobili's breakout season in 07-08 and Parker's breakout season in 08-09, one has always been either injured or just working his way back from being injured, but not in game shape or rhythm. We haven't seen them both healthy, rested and fresh off a summer where they were able to dedicate time to working on their games.
Statistically, I don't expect either to resemble the totals they did in those seasons, because the depth of scoring and overall talent level on the team is superior now to what it was then. Also, with both healthy and rested, one won't have to make up for the others absence or sporadic play.
But overall, if their level of play is reminiscent of their peak seasons, then right their this team becomes better. Possibly substantially. No other team in the league can boast two All-NBA caliber performers together in the same back court.
As for the Western Conference, if the off season plays out how I expect it to, the Spurs should enter next season as the second best team in the conference. Because of their potential for internal improvement and in the Trail Blazers case, improved health, either the Thunder or the Trail Blazers could pass the Spurs, but it's difficult to envision any of the others doing so, barring something unforeseen.
Amare gone...
Boozer gone..
If the spurs can truly sign Tiago and either re-sign RJ or a legit SF then the Spurs have moved up to the 2nd best team in the western conference. I would love to say they are better than the lakers but I am realist and I believe they are still a little behind the defending champs. This is exactly the reason why many believe the SAS front office is the best in the NBA. They weathered the TP rumors and seemed to realize that with a motivated TP this coming season could be very interesting with aslightly weakend western conference. Again, lets hope to for a splitter contract soon and SF to follow shortly there after for what could be one of the final runs in the TD era.
Think we'll also have to see what the Mavs are able to do.
I'll wait until we have a better handle on FA before making predictions, but I still think you underestimate a few teams in the West (OKC, Denver, Dallas, Houston, and Portland). It does appear that the Suns and Jazz will take huge hits with their losses, but tomorrow will be huge in deciding who the very good teams in the NBA truly are.
The spurs were the better team last season and I expect the the spurs to start the season as a better team next season. I expect Haywood to return and pretty much have the same starting roster as last season. The mavs will always be a tough out, but I truly believe the spurs with the hopeful additions on the inside will widen the gap between the two teams.
Good point..I forgot OKC and yes they are an up and coming team, but I did not forget portland. The blazers seemed to be the walking wounded come every playoff season and that is not good. I am not making predictions but am simply pointing out that the spurs have indeed risen in terms of team ratings by simply doing nothing (when they could have easily traded players like TP, like many wrongfully wanted).
I think the Mavs are still trying to make some decent moves to get even better. I heard that they are trying to get Jermaine O'Neal. That would make them a of a lot better and maybe better than the Spurs.
personally, I would prefer o'neal over haywood with dallas at the 5. I think the opposite and believe this would make the mavs an even more perimeter oriented team with Dirk at the 4.
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