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Back in the day, baseball statistician and writer Bill James wrote that it’s better to spend money on new publicity instead of on old publicity. Clubs were better spending money for players who have most of their highlight clips in their future rather than in their past.
It has taken baseball personnel bosses a decade or two, but they seem to be figuring out the wisdom in James’ common-sense message. The early stages of the NBA free-agent signing period suggest that basketball execs are coming around, too. The free agency signing period began July 1st but contracts didn't become official until July 8, when the salary cap is established and precise amounts for the mid-level exception (a contract that teams over the salary cap can offer to one player) will be set. If there’s a good explanation for why these events don’t coincide, I haven’t heard it.
The big news in the early days of this summer’s free agent period has centered on young players. Ben Gordon, 26; Charlie Villanueva, 24; Marcin Gortat, 26; and Trevor Ariza, 24, have all received five-year deals. Shorter deals have gone to veteran players: Rasheed Wallace, Jason Kidd and Ron Artest. Only the Toronto Raptors blundered badly, inking Hedo Turkoglu, 30, to a five-year deal. Let’s look at the action off the hardwood so far.
The Detroit Pistons got off to a fast start by removing the stench from their 39-43 campaign in ’08-’09 by signing Gordon and Villanueva, two of the best young players on the market. Although I have reservations about giving Gordon $11 million per season until 2014, he will be a valuable addition as a sixth man and the third backcourt player in three-guard sets. Whenever a player excels in the playoffs, he gets about 40 percent more than his actual market value. I’m sure Gordon’s clutch play for Chicago in this spring’s memorable playoff series against Boston raised his value. Villanueva is a good replacement for Wallace. The Pistons’ streak of six straight conference finals appearances ended this year, and they have a lot of work to do before than can reasonably forecast going that deep into the post-season again, but they have made their team younger and more athletic.
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Only the Toronto Raptors blundered badly, inking Hedo Turkoglu, 30, to a five-year deal. Let’s look at the action off the hardwood so far. free online games
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Martin, I appreciate your response, but definitely disagree with your opinion. Yes, it can be enjoyable to watch good athletic competition but most of these guys do end up broke after blowing their millions on foolish things, five or six baby mamas’ bills, eight or nine cars, stupid run ends with the law, etc. Sports Illustrated recently did an article on this subject but I was aware of this years before SI decided to print it.
And why do you regulate it to “Dicey business” if funds are used to create real opportunities in the black community? I am not suggesting pouring money out to people who are not responsible or if they have a crooked background. There will be always a couple who are crooks but not all us are.
During the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s when blacks were excluded from participating in “ White“ professional sports many Irish, Jewish, Italian, and other white ethnic players did exactly what you describe as dicey with their respected communities. Some eventually leading true ownership and management of ball clubs, this had a substantial economic ripple effect throughout their communities. These white ethnic players dam well made sure that the money they made from their sweat and blood on the field was turned over few times in their communities.
And as far as the organizations you mentioned, NBA cares and others, are well intended but are quite small and have no real lasting impact.
Frank
Athletes young and old capture the imagination and inspire people in their own competitive situations.
The vast majority of them do give back substantially to the community (programs like NBA Cares and RBI insure that) and most finish their careers with a comfortable nest egg.
Teams and how they manage their finances, the subject of this story, provide a great microcosm for people who run small businesses.
Those are my reasons.
You're welcome to your antipathies, but it's dicey business expecting large numbers of strangers to share them.
-MJ
Why are black people so infatuated with black athletes and entertainers? Has any one ever thought about asking questions like “what do these young millionaires do for the black community in general? Do they ever really make a meaningful contribution back to the black community by using their celebrity status to bring economic development, therefore jobs, to the black community?
The short and long answer is hell no... So why all the brouhaha about a bunch of guys who 99% of the time will become an embarrassment to black people and be financially broke a few years after their game days are over.
Please I would like to hear responses or comments about this issue.
With Rasheed Wallace, don't you think Boston is primed for a return to the glass slipper. Can I get an AMEN?
Detroit will be sorry they signed Gordon and Villanueva. Gordon can score in bunches, but he will give up as many points as he scores. He also is turnover prone. He'll want to start, given that he's being paid top dollars. So what do the Pistons do with Rip Hamilton? He's the incumbent starter, and I doubt he will go to the bench willingly. Villanueva has a history of disappearing in games. These will not be the Pistons of recent memory. They've got a new coach who has yet to be a head coach at any level. He'll be thrown into an already volitile situation. Good luck.