Thoughts On Cleveland Cavaliers' Owner Dan Gilbert's Reaction To LeBron's "Decision"
M.D. Wright
7.11.10
I'll keep this brief, because there's been TOO MUCH ado made about the entire situation. As a matter of fact, this won't even be in column form, but more or less in response form.
First of all, Spike Lee was 100% correct and speaks for most sane fans of the game, no matter what team they root for. I posted a link to his call into SportsCenter on Friday and he spoke for nearly 10 minutes about it in reaction. 100% perfect. He speaks for me as a Knick fan also -- even down to not hating nor booing him when I see him at MSG in December.
But to Dan Gilbert? I can't really knock him TOTALLY. I do think he's playing himself by going public with this rant of his. He has every right to feel that way, even if he isn't completely justified (I taunted the Cavs and their fans for years for thinking that roster of washed-up, overpaid, D-league all-star role players was FORTUNATE to have the records they had the past two years and even getting as far as they did on LeBron's back since 2006), because Gilbert certainly has a lot of the blame here. If not most of it.
The Cavs made the Finals in 2007, swept, but made it. Fell back to the pack in 2008, then got bounced... errr... EMBARRASSED last year vs. Orlando and embarrassed further in May 2010 by an aging Boston team. For all the hype, you would've thought the Cavs were in line for a three-peat heading into June 2010, not also-rans (which is really what they have been for the past 7 years). Again, I don't blame LeBron for leaving. What did then-GM Danny Ferry and Gilbert do? Continue to balloon the cap by bringing in has-been players who were nothing but shells of their former selves. Shaquille O'Neal is chasing the next magic carpet ride to the Finals (irony is he is probably begging to go back to the Lakers or Heat, teams he's basically burned bridges with over the same issue -- coming into camp out of shape and then pointing/GIVING the finger to the team once he moved on to the next one like his last name was Carter). Antawn Jamison was always one-dimensional in Washington and now he's OLD and one-dimensional. Zydrunas Ilgauskas' best years were spent imitating Bill Walton's prime years (NBA historians will get that and die laughing immediately). Mo Williams is a JOKE and will be fully exposed even to the casual fan's eyes next season.
What did Gilbert expect?
Even Kobe Bryant, the best player in the league, needed a couple of GOOD players (the anti-Kobe sect out there, ever hypocritical and self-contradictory will attempt to diminish a Kobe accomplishment and augment his teammates' accomplishments in the same breath by saying "he couldn't win it alone" and then say his current teammates are basically Dream Team II, when Gasol was an afterthought in Memphis, Odom and Artest are in the last year or two in their primes and Odom has been dogging it since he left Miami -- and neither of the latter two are all-stars, as the haters suggest, all in an effort to say Kobe has a stacked deck -- Gasol is only the best PF/C in the West because the talent level at that position is injured or diluted and he's playing with Kobe now). The Lakers' bench was laughable for most of 2009-2010. There has to be something said for the intangibles even when your best player doesn't have his best game (another anti-Kobe slur was that "he's selfish and doesn't make his teammates better" -- another shot down argument -- because Gasol was considered "too soft" and Artest was said to be a potential train wreck for the team and these are guys Kobe lit a fire under and brought the best out of and put them in position to help the team win.
Lost in all the "he shot 6-24 FG in Game 7" nonsense is the fact that he had 10 CLUTCH points when it mattered and his so-called "soft" and "head case" teammates made clutch shots to seal the deal.
That's what Jordan did. Kobe does it also. LeBron didn't do it in Cleveland.
And he won't in Miami, either, because it's Wade's team.
But for Gilbert to go on this tirade and this "defame LeBron at all costs" campaign, it's just reaching scorned girlfriend proportions. He speaks of "covering" for LeBron when he was in Cleveland. Look, he sped down I-71 at 110 MPH many times and got off for it. Swept under the rug. I told people all the time, "Don't fall for this image that Nike and the NBA are pushing about this guy, he is NO angel and he's not perfect". You fell for it with Jordan, you fell for it with Kobe before 2004 and you fell for it with LeBron. The guy has had two children out of wedlock -- THAT WE KNOW OF -- by two different women. No mention of this. Kobe does this, the vile hatred would reach unheard of heights. LeBron goes out and racks up an $800 tab and leaves less than $10. No one hears about it. Gilbert covers for him. He does other shady shit that never gets heard of outside of northeast Ohio. Why are you covering for him anyway? That's not your job. Don't put that on blast because he left. That's just like a chick standing by, knowing she has grievances with her boyfriend, he cheats, he doesn't clean up, he has nasty habits that she hates but didn't speak about -- UNTIL HE LEFT HER FOR SOMEONE ELSE, then she has a tirade for the ages. Who wants to hear that shit ha? Same way I don't want to hear a woman bitching about how she got owned, I don't want to hear Gilbert sounding the same way.
SN: Anyone else notice how EVERYONE is using the "scorned girlfriend" angle with this LeBron-Leaves-Cleveland story ha?
By the way:
The shit LeBron got away with and never got exposed for while in Cleveland would've been thrown in his face EVERY DAY here in New York. And we would have STILL cheered him. That's why we're BETTER than Cleveland fans in every sport. They're showing their asses now, but we would have never stood by and gave that nigga a pass with the shit he was doing to begin with. If we saw him at the bar and not leaving tips, he would've heard it. If he got in my boy DK's cab and left a $3 tip (if any tip at all) on a $45 fare to Kennedy, we'd let him have it. If he sped up the FDR or down the BQE or weaved around the tankers that seemingly don't move for 15 minutes at a time on the Cross Bronx, we'd let him have it.
AND STILL CHEERED HIM.
And if he left in an understandable matter, yeah, we'd be pissed, but we wouldn't be acting like babies such as Gilbert and the Cleveland Fan has done.
Embarrassing, the whole lot of them.
As politically incorrect as I wanna be.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
2010 NBA Free Agency: LeBron Chooses Miami
2010 NBA Free Agency: LeBron Chooses Miami
M.D. Wright
7.10.10
You know what? GOOD FOR HIM. You play ball in the NBA to WIN more than any other reason. And "legacy" and perception be damned, LeBron James went to the situation he thought was the best opportunity for him to do so. If it were only that simple, I wouldn't have a single thing to say about it.
However...
Oh, and for the people who claim I hate LeBron -- I am not Skip Bayless, who I am CONVINCED hates him, but you got me misunderstood. No one is solely pointing the finger at James. Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert, former Cavs' GM Danny Ferry, etc. were to blame (although they have been limited in what they could do the past 3 years being pressed against the cap due to the bad decisions after they made the Finals), but I'm not letting LeBron off the hook ESPECIALLY with the way he handled this and what it says about him that he chose to go to Miami and not New York, when, if his crew of yes-men faggots had any wisdom and long-term foresight, they would've known that the Knicks offered the better long-term situation than Miami. Miami is championship or bust in the next 3 years (he's most likely going to have an out-clause after the 3rd year once they don't win anything and he's frustrated again). They're cap pressed already and will be for the duration of those guys' contracts.
See, given that they signed simultaneously and not staggered year after the next, the Heat's cap situation isn't going to get any better. They'll only have a mid-level exception and have to hit 100% on their drafts in 2011 and 2012 for it to work (and hope that these supposedly NBA-ready 2010 picks pan out immediately).
Yes, there were IFs involved in coming to New York, but there are FAR more in Miami. The prospect of winning now is alluring and I can't and won't knock him for that. At the end of the day who really cares why he chose and where he went? It's his decision and his future. But this whole thing was a PR nightmare, especially for the unbiased eye who will be objective enough to see through what was said and WASN'T said to see how full of shit everyone around LeBron and LeBron himself were about this. You have every right to leave Cleveland. But tell them that. Gilbert is an arrogant prick and I'm halfway glad this happened, because he was grand-standing like he just KNEW LeBron was staying no matter what. I loved seeing those press conferences last year and this year with him and his smug face making proclamations.
But LeBron shouldn't have done it this way. You run the league. Do it the way you want to. Not the way your hack ass "marketing team" and "managers" tell you to.
There was NO NEED to go to Greenwich and have it at the B&G. Why? Stans speculated it was because of Carmelo's wedding today -- July 10 -- here in New York. But LeBron has been in Miami ever since the announcement on Thursday night. Why use the charity angle to assuage the guilt and lessening the blow so people would say "well, he IS doing it for charity, after all, so lay off" (which is what they undoubtedly hoped people thought). CUT THEM A CHECK AND KEEP IT MOVING.
If it were me, I would've just said "too bad, I'm outta here" and not gave a fuck what people thought. The whole farce was constructed BECAUSE LeBron cares about how he's perceived and it BACKFIRED, because now he has a whole state hating him for leaving and HOW he left, and the entire tri-state here (save for a few die-hard fans of his) who either were ambivalent and now hate him or were like me, liked watching him play, cynical and saw through the bullshit and am calling bullshit again with this -- who are turning against him after being supportive for 7 years. Contrary to what people like you claim, I don't hate him. Not even. I don't WORSHIP him like the stans do, but I hate overhype for someone who hasn't achieved anything, stars aligned or not. And before I even hear Kobe being brought up, that discussion can FOREVER be put to rest, now. No one is allowed to compare LeBron with him anymore. It wasn't a viable argument before, anyway. LeBron is huge no homo. He's 6'8" 265 and faster than almost everyone in the league. Stature-wise, Kobe is built like 100 other guys in the NBA at 6'6" 210. Kobe's footwork is impeccable. Hell, Hakeem personally taught him some of the moves he uses and Jordan nods in approval at his pivot moves. LeBron does none of that. As a student of the game and a miniature version of the thinking-man's player (I love using pivot moves, step-backs, Reggie Miller catch-and-shoots, triple threat, etc.) I give more credence to someone who does that better than anyone over someone who bulls over players and gets the benefit of the whistle 90% of the time. Across the board in terms of a polished game, Kobe is better. Notice I said POLISHED. People are in awe of LeBron's athleticism, thundering dunks and mesmerizing antics on the court. Hell, I love 'em myself. But POLISHED is what Jordan was and POLISHED is what Kobe is. I watch LeBron to be entertained, I watch Kobe to see perfection on the court.
BUT ENOUGH OF THAT, this article has nothing to do with Bryant.
I woulda been fine with him going to CHI or even NJ (and would've understood the latter much more with his supposed ties to Jay). But to do this in my backyard, under a farcical façade and then not choose New York, well, you can't expect me to jump on my arch-rival team's bandwagon, can you?
It's never been personal with me and that dude. If I saw him on the street, I'd give him pounds and I'm sure he's cool (minus the yes men handlers of his). Just like Jay. I hate how Jay rigged the game and got tight that Harlem dudes was getting more shine on his label, so he undercut them and did spiteful shit in order to sabotage their success. But if I met Jay in person and even did business with him, all that would be put aside. Haters aren't able to do that. So let's get that straight once and for all.
I have to re-emphasize this several times in a column, why? Because even after reading it (if the people who comment first EVEN DO SO), people will still claim it. If you haven't played, coached, refereed the game, and don't know the history of the game down through the years and a purist, then why try to tell me what to think here?
At any rate, I'm not like some of the people who I've heard talk lately. Everywhere I've gone the past three days in the city, I hear people talking about it. This one guy was homicidal today when I was down by Wall Street. He was furious that LeBron didn't come. Cavs fans and Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert have shown their asses ever since Thursday night. I'm embarrassed to be part of the same human race with such people. It wasn't that serious. I didn't hold candlelight vigil outside of Madison Square Garden hoping he would come and then flip out when he didn't choose us. The Knicks have been at the bottom of the totem pole for New York fans for a decade. It was funny to see "taunts" on my Facebook and Twitter pages from fans of teams that have won exactly nothing -- I might add -- as if I was someplace whimpering in a corner or ready to jump off the ledge like Cleveland fans. I wasn't. Far from it (in fact, I was tight about the MTA and its antics -- which I will write about later tonight -- more than LeBron could have EVER made me) You wanna know why I am ambivalent (now that the initial disappointment is over?)
I HAVE THE YANKEES AND GIANTS TO SUPPORT.
God bless and Good Night.
M.D. Wright
7.10.10
You know what? GOOD FOR HIM. You play ball in the NBA to WIN more than any other reason. And "legacy" and perception be damned, LeBron James went to the situation he thought was the best opportunity for him to do so. If it were only that simple, I wouldn't have a single thing to say about it.
However...
Oh, and for the people who claim I hate LeBron -- I am not Skip Bayless, who I am CONVINCED hates him, but you got me misunderstood. No one is solely pointing the finger at James. Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert, former Cavs' GM Danny Ferry, etc. were to blame (although they have been limited in what they could do the past 3 years being pressed against the cap due to the bad decisions after they made the Finals), but I'm not letting LeBron off the hook ESPECIALLY with the way he handled this and what it says about him that he chose to go to Miami and not New York, when, if his crew of yes-men faggots had any wisdom and long-term foresight, they would've known that the Knicks offered the better long-term situation than Miami. Miami is championship or bust in the next 3 years (he's most likely going to have an out-clause after the 3rd year once they don't win anything and he's frustrated again). They're cap pressed already and will be for the duration of those guys' contracts.
See, given that they signed simultaneously and not staggered year after the next, the Heat's cap situation isn't going to get any better. They'll only have a mid-level exception and have to hit 100% on their drafts in 2011 and 2012 for it to work (and hope that these supposedly NBA-ready 2010 picks pan out immediately).
Yes, there were IFs involved in coming to New York, but there are FAR more in Miami. The prospect of winning now is alluring and I can't and won't knock him for that. At the end of the day who really cares why he chose and where he went? It's his decision and his future. But this whole thing was a PR nightmare, especially for the unbiased eye who will be objective enough to see through what was said and WASN'T said to see how full of shit everyone around LeBron and LeBron himself were about this. You have every right to leave Cleveland. But tell them that. Gilbert is an arrogant prick and I'm halfway glad this happened, because he was grand-standing like he just KNEW LeBron was staying no matter what. I loved seeing those press conferences last year and this year with him and his smug face making proclamations.
But LeBron shouldn't have done it this way. You run the league. Do it the way you want to. Not the way your hack ass "marketing team" and "managers" tell you to.
There was NO NEED to go to Greenwich and have it at the B&G. Why? Stans speculated it was because of Carmelo's wedding today -- July 10 -- here in New York. But LeBron has been in Miami ever since the announcement on Thursday night. Why use the charity angle to assuage the guilt and lessening the blow so people would say "well, he IS doing it for charity, after all, so lay off" (which is what they undoubtedly hoped people thought). CUT THEM A CHECK AND KEEP IT MOVING.
If it were me, I would've just said "too bad, I'm outta here" and not gave a fuck what people thought. The whole farce was constructed BECAUSE LeBron cares about how he's perceived and it BACKFIRED, because now he has a whole state hating him for leaving and HOW he left, and the entire tri-state here (save for a few die-hard fans of his) who either were ambivalent and now hate him or were like me, liked watching him play, cynical and saw through the bullshit and am calling bullshit again with this -- who are turning against him after being supportive for 7 years. Contrary to what people like you claim, I don't hate him. Not even. I don't WORSHIP him like the stans do, but I hate overhype for someone who hasn't achieved anything, stars aligned or not. And before I even hear Kobe being brought up, that discussion can FOREVER be put to rest, now. No one is allowed to compare LeBron with him anymore. It wasn't a viable argument before, anyway. LeBron is huge no homo. He's 6'8" 265 and faster than almost everyone in the league. Stature-wise, Kobe is built like 100 other guys in the NBA at 6'6" 210. Kobe's footwork is impeccable. Hell, Hakeem personally taught him some of the moves he uses and Jordan nods in approval at his pivot moves. LeBron does none of that. As a student of the game and a miniature version of the thinking-man's player (I love using pivot moves, step-backs, Reggie Miller catch-and-shoots, triple threat, etc.) I give more credence to someone who does that better than anyone over someone who bulls over players and gets the benefit of the whistle 90% of the time. Across the board in terms of a polished game, Kobe is better. Notice I said POLISHED. People are in awe of LeBron's athleticism, thundering dunks and mesmerizing antics on the court. Hell, I love 'em myself. But POLISHED is what Jordan was and POLISHED is what Kobe is. I watch LeBron to be entertained, I watch Kobe to see perfection on the court.
BUT ENOUGH OF THAT, this article has nothing to do with Bryant.
I woulda been fine with him going to CHI or even NJ (and would've understood the latter much more with his supposed ties to Jay). But to do this in my backyard, under a farcical façade and then not choose New York, well, you can't expect me to jump on my arch-rival team's bandwagon, can you?
It's never been personal with me and that dude. If I saw him on the street, I'd give him pounds and I'm sure he's cool (minus the yes men handlers of his). Just like Jay. I hate how Jay rigged the game and got tight that Harlem dudes was getting more shine on his label, so he undercut them and did spiteful shit in order to sabotage their success. But if I met Jay in person and even did business with him, all that would be put aside. Haters aren't able to do that. So let's get that straight once and for all.
I have to re-emphasize this several times in a column, why? Because even after reading it (if the people who comment first EVEN DO SO), people will still claim it. If you haven't played, coached, refereed the game, and don't know the history of the game down through the years and a purist, then why try to tell me what to think here?
At any rate, I'm not like some of the people who I've heard talk lately. Everywhere I've gone the past three days in the city, I hear people talking about it. This one guy was homicidal today when I was down by Wall Street. He was furious that LeBron didn't come. Cavs fans and Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert have shown their asses ever since Thursday night. I'm embarrassed to be part of the same human race with such people. It wasn't that serious. I didn't hold candlelight vigil outside of Madison Square Garden hoping he would come and then flip out when he didn't choose us. The Knicks have been at the bottom of the totem pole for New York fans for a decade. It was funny to see "taunts" on my Facebook and Twitter pages from fans of teams that have won exactly nothing -- I might add -- as if I was someplace whimpering in a corner or ready to jump off the ledge like Cleveland fans. I wasn't. Far from it (in fact, I was tight about the MTA and its antics -- which I will write about later tonight -- more than LeBron could have EVER made me) You wanna know why I am ambivalent (now that the initial disappointment is over?)
I HAVE THE YANKEES AND GIANTS TO SUPPORT.
God bless and Good Night.
My Open Letter To My Friends
My Open Letter To My Friends
M.D. Wright
7.10.10
I feel compelled to write to my true friends for many reasons. Some of it, to clear up any assumptions that may be out there because of things that are said (and unsaid) or my lack of interaction outside of Facebook or my absence from all the events, parties and what have you that I have been invited to for the past few months. I feel disgusted because of my entire situation and shuttling back and forth between Harlem and Staten Island almost daily (and having to crash on SI when I'm not Uptown) just makes things even more unnerving.
There are some of you who are great at letting me know when things are going on, inviting me, wanting me to be in your presence and I greatly appreciate it. I am not aloof. Those of you who hang around me here in New York or those in other states who have known me for years know I am a sociable person and when I'm around good people, I love to have a good time and people feel good having laughs with my robust sense of humor and overall warm presence. I try to do what I can, but I am simply in an impossible situation and coupled with all the stresses that I have on my plate at the moment, making it to even 1 in every 10 things I am invited to is a daunting task.
When I graduated from UNCG, my plan was to go back Uptown. I would have been closer to any job prospects, landed a job sooner, had more available housing options and been able to do my real estate gig on the side much more easily. I had spent three of the four years at UNCG applying for jobs all over North Carolina, DMV and back here in New York and the tri-state (even applied for a few dozen in Jersey, Westchester and even Connecticut), along with Florida and Puerto Rico. I've expressed willingness to travel abroad to work if the opportunity presented itself and such an arrangement necessitated that sort of travel. I came up with NOTHING after submitting over 15,000 applications online between March 2006 and July 2010. I've hustled just as hustlers do, and had a few gigs here and there, but I haven't had a permanent, full-time, salaried job since August 2005. I have no idea how someone who busts their ass trying to find such gainful employment can come up short for FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS. It is beyond me. I don't care WHAT the economy looks like.
Anyway, that led me to reach out to my aunt who I used to live with in Newark many years ago. Back then, when I wasn't in Brooklyn in school or in Harlem -- either at her office, with friends or huggin' the block, I was out in Jersey and thankfully, she's always looked out for me. Otherwise, I would've been dead ass homeless. I have relatives in every borough, but at age 30 (last year), I shudder at the thought of not having my own place when I was accustomed to that for the past few years. Although the situation is less than ideal (even if it were Uptown and not Staten Island), I shant complain. She's been very gracious and welcoming and has made things a bit less stressful for me when I have otherwise been stressed out to the max for the past 14 months.
I managed to land a summer camp counselor job through a now-former friend last year and that was a train wreck from the get-go. I won't get into that again, as I wrote about it in-depth when it ended horribly last August, but that precluded me from interviewing for anything in Manhattan all summer. It eventually set me up for an awful summer -- couldn't hang with my friends for more than one weekend in a month -- and an even worse fall and winter; as I was broke, the commute is even more unnerving when it is cold and there were no job prospects nor any resources available to start a business (you know people who have never had to struggle to survive are quick to tell you to "create your own opportunities" when you've bankrupted yourself just to pay for college OUT OF POCKET for four years and spent three other years and tens of thousands of dollars on two other businesses that I never truly could dedicate any time to due to my ministry and academic requirements). To make matters worse, SOMEHOW, being an ideal candidate for the public assistance programs that New York City and New York State offer, I had been ineligible to receive anything (even unemployment before embarking on a 9 month BITTER FIGHT for my benefits and still only received 1/4 of the $10,000 that was due to me) that would enable me to 1) get my own place, 2) subsist and 3) be in position to be gainfully employed again. Thoughts of starting another business had to be put on the back burner, because I had to worry about having clothes on my back, a roof over my head and food to eat ALONG WITH the massive costs of transporting myself with the ever-maddening MTA cutting services left and right but always threatening fare-hikes at the same time.
I went on 63 interviews from September 2009 until March 31, 2010. I felt like I wasted a colossal amount of time doing so. I know for a fact almost all of them only brought me in so that they could fulfill a "quota" of "interviewing" a certain number of "minority" candidates so that they wouldn't be cited for discrimination (hey folks, bullshit "interviews" and hiring unqualified buddies of yours or sticking to those who are "unthreatening" -- read: Whites, Asians, females and uneducated Black yes-men does not constitute "equal opportunity employer" status).
I finally hit with Rapid Realty, and while it would otherwise be good -- especially if I had stacks; which you need for ANY commission job (reminder: I left Aetna in August 2005 with 12 stacks -- I always had money before wasting it all on a useless Bachelor's Degree that I almost regret going back to school to get -- what has it done for me???) it's not right now. I have to commute two hours to get to ANY of our 15 offices and the majority of my clients have been less than ideal with their lack of funds, credit scores, understanding of the market and willingness to come off exorbitant requests for little to no money . It's highly frustrating, because I have now spent three months and been more of a tour guide than a realtor. And some of these people are native New Yorkers who have been through the process before.
Side note: please explain to me why someone expects to spend less than $1,500 but want to live on the Upper West Side? Or only want to spend $800 but want not to be in or NEAR the 'hood in Brooklyn? Are we THAT out of touch with reality, folks?
It has depleted my funds and not having much to begin with -- especially after being short-changed by the Dept. of Labor for my unemployment -- that isn't sitting well with me right now. I'm back in that vicious cycle where I really don't care anymore and it's dangerous for me and for those who get in my way. Consider this a warning.
I am not a drunkard, but I would have liked to have gone to Nevada's every (or at least most) Thursday, or go to shows, house parties, Hip Hop festivals, events that I get invited to (Tisha Blu Moon, this is to you ha) and what have you, but again, if I'm not in Harlem, I can't fathom doing it. If I have drinks, the 2 hour commute isn't palatable to me. Most people have a 20-30 minute subway/bus/cab ride home after such an evening. I have a 20 minute walk, a subway ride (or two, in some cases), the ferry or the express bus and then ANOTHER bus (or a 20 minute walk on the tail end of it) to consider. Raise your hand if you feel like doing that after you've partied, had drinks, had some kush/haze, etc. I DIDN'T THINK SO.
I just want you all to know I am not being standoffish and "stuck up". I hate weekends. Most of you live for them, but they are the most uneventful times of the week for me. The MTA is at its worst on the weekends and the express buses run both more infrequently and don't go anywhere NEAR my house on weekends. I am going to put the MTA on blast in another blog coming up later tonight.
However, I am holding out hope that something will break soon. I have a promising interview on Monday in Herald Square and I'm still lining up appointments for real estate (but only by appointment-only and pretty much taking referrals from my friends and friends of friends; chasing down half-assed leads has me on icy terms with my company because they're expecting me to turn water into wine when I'm dealing with people with Section 8 budgets looking for a fucking Upper East Side penthouse with their ridiculous demands).
Nevertheless, it is what it is.
All I can say is, despite it all, I play hard every day trying to do my best to remedy the situation with ZERO help from anyone.
God Bless and Good Night.
M.D. Wright
7.10.10
I feel compelled to write to my true friends for many reasons. Some of it, to clear up any assumptions that may be out there because of things that are said (and unsaid) or my lack of interaction outside of Facebook or my absence from all the events, parties and what have you that I have been invited to for the past few months. I feel disgusted because of my entire situation and shuttling back and forth between Harlem and Staten Island almost daily (and having to crash on SI when I'm not Uptown) just makes things even more unnerving.
There are some of you who are great at letting me know when things are going on, inviting me, wanting me to be in your presence and I greatly appreciate it. I am not aloof. Those of you who hang around me here in New York or those in other states who have known me for years know I am a sociable person and when I'm around good people, I love to have a good time and people feel good having laughs with my robust sense of humor and overall warm presence. I try to do what I can, but I am simply in an impossible situation and coupled with all the stresses that I have on my plate at the moment, making it to even 1 in every 10 things I am invited to is a daunting task.
When I graduated from UNCG, my plan was to go back Uptown. I would have been closer to any job prospects, landed a job sooner, had more available housing options and been able to do my real estate gig on the side much more easily. I had spent three of the four years at UNCG applying for jobs all over North Carolina, DMV and back here in New York and the tri-state (even applied for a few dozen in Jersey, Westchester and even Connecticut), along with Florida and Puerto Rico. I've expressed willingness to travel abroad to work if the opportunity presented itself and such an arrangement necessitated that sort of travel. I came up with NOTHING after submitting over 15,000 applications online between March 2006 and July 2010. I've hustled just as hustlers do, and had a few gigs here and there, but I haven't had a permanent, full-time, salaried job since August 2005. I have no idea how someone who busts their ass trying to find such gainful employment can come up short for FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS. It is beyond me. I don't care WHAT the economy looks like.
Anyway, that led me to reach out to my aunt who I used to live with in Newark many years ago. Back then, when I wasn't in Brooklyn in school or in Harlem -- either at her office, with friends or huggin' the block, I was out in Jersey and thankfully, she's always looked out for me. Otherwise, I would've been dead ass homeless. I have relatives in every borough, but at age 30 (last year), I shudder at the thought of not having my own place when I was accustomed to that for the past few years. Although the situation is less than ideal (even if it were Uptown and not Staten Island), I shant complain. She's been very gracious and welcoming and has made things a bit less stressful for me when I have otherwise been stressed out to the max for the past 14 months.
I managed to land a summer camp counselor job through a now-former friend last year and that was a train wreck from the get-go. I won't get into that again, as I wrote about it in-depth when it ended horribly last August, but that precluded me from interviewing for anything in Manhattan all summer. It eventually set me up for an awful summer -- couldn't hang with my friends for more than one weekend in a month -- and an even worse fall and winter; as I was broke, the commute is even more unnerving when it is cold and there were no job prospects nor any resources available to start a business (you know people who have never had to struggle to survive are quick to tell you to "create your own opportunities" when you've bankrupted yourself just to pay for college OUT OF POCKET for four years and spent three other years and tens of thousands of dollars on two other businesses that I never truly could dedicate any time to due to my ministry and academic requirements). To make matters worse, SOMEHOW, being an ideal candidate for the public assistance programs that New York City and New York State offer, I had been ineligible to receive anything (even unemployment before embarking on a 9 month BITTER FIGHT for my benefits and still only received 1/4 of the $10,000 that was due to me) that would enable me to 1) get my own place, 2) subsist and 3) be in position to be gainfully employed again. Thoughts of starting another business had to be put on the back burner, because I had to worry about having clothes on my back, a roof over my head and food to eat ALONG WITH the massive costs of transporting myself with the ever-maddening MTA cutting services left and right but always threatening fare-hikes at the same time.
I went on 63 interviews from September 2009 until March 31, 2010. I felt like I wasted a colossal amount of time doing so. I know for a fact almost all of them only brought me in so that they could fulfill a "quota" of "interviewing" a certain number of "minority" candidates so that they wouldn't be cited for discrimination (hey folks, bullshit "interviews" and hiring unqualified buddies of yours or sticking to those who are "unthreatening" -- read: Whites, Asians, females and uneducated Black yes-men does not constitute "equal opportunity employer" status).
I finally hit with Rapid Realty, and while it would otherwise be good -- especially if I had stacks; which you need for ANY commission job (reminder: I left Aetna in August 2005 with 12 stacks -- I always had money before wasting it all on a useless Bachelor's Degree that I almost regret going back to school to get -- what has it done for me???) it's not right now. I have to commute two hours to get to ANY of our 15 offices and the majority of my clients have been less than ideal with their lack of funds, credit scores, understanding of the market and willingness to come off exorbitant requests for little to no money . It's highly frustrating, because I have now spent three months and been more of a tour guide than a realtor. And some of these people are native New Yorkers who have been through the process before.
Side note: please explain to me why someone expects to spend less than $1,500 but want to live on the Upper West Side? Or only want to spend $800 but want not to be in or NEAR the 'hood in Brooklyn? Are we THAT out of touch with reality, folks?
It has depleted my funds and not having much to begin with -- especially after being short-changed by the Dept. of Labor for my unemployment -- that isn't sitting well with me right now. I'm back in that vicious cycle where I really don't care anymore and it's dangerous for me and for those who get in my way. Consider this a warning.
I am not a drunkard, but I would have liked to have gone to Nevada's every (or at least most) Thursday, or go to shows, house parties, Hip Hop festivals, events that I get invited to (Tisha Blu Moon, this is to you ha) and what have you, but again, if I'm not in Harlem, I can't fathom doing it. If I have drinks, the 2 hour commute isn't palatable to me. Most people have a 20-30 minute subway/bus/cab ride home after such an evening. I have a 20 minute walk, a subway ride (or two, in some cases), the ferry or the express bus and then ANOTHER bus (or a 20 minute walk on the tail end of it) to consider. Raise your hand if you feel like doing that after you've partied, had drinks, had some kush/haze, etc. I DIDN'T THINK SO.
I just want you all to know I am not being standoffish and "stuck up". I hate weekends. Most of you live for them, but they are the most uneventful times of the week for me. The MTA is at its worst on the weekends and the express buses run both more infrequently and don't go anywhere NEAR my house on weekends. I am going to put the MTA on blast in another blog coming up later tonight.
However, I am holding out hope that something will break soon. I have a promising interview on Monday in Herald Square and I'm still lining up appointments for real estate (but only by appointment-only and pretty much taking referrals from my friends and friends of friends; chasing down half-assed leads has me on icy terms with my company because they're expecting me to turn water into wine when I'm dealing with people with Section 8 budgets looking for a fucking Upper East Side penthouse with their ridiculous demands).
Nevertheless, it is what it is.
All I can say is, despite it all, I play hard every day trying to do my best to remedy the situation with ZERO help from anyone.
God Bless and Good Night.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Explaining Free Agency: By The Numbers (And Knicks Scenarios For 0'10)
Explaining Free Agency: By The Numbers (And Knicks Scenarios For 0'10)
M.D. Wright
7.1.10
I need to school some'a yah, because I swear I hear nothing but video game scenarios when it comes to these free agent signings. I blame ESPN partly for all of the fodder, because I think a lot of their willfully erroneous reporting of the salary cap situations of the Bulls and Heat (neither can sign two max salary players, despite everything that has been said over the past two weeks) has fueled the rampant speculation.
First of all, the Knicks are the ONLY team that can offer two max contracts. The Heat can only do so if Wade becomes a free agent (and he doesn't have Bird Rights). Even if he does so, the Heat must re-sign him and any two "max players" who were to go to to Miami would need to settle for 90% of the maximum salary (based off their previous contracts which expired on June 30, 2010 when they either became unrestricted or exercised out of their player options to extend their previous deals). Why this isn't being reported properly is beyond me.
Same with the Bulls. I hear James Johnson and Luol Deng being mentioned as sacrificial lambs with regards to clearing off the remaining space the Bulls need to be able to sign two guys. For one, James Johnson is on his rookie scale contract. That won't clear enough space. Deng is set to make a little over $11M in 2010-2011, but coming off an injury-riddled season and only being slightly above average as is, who wants that contract? Especially when all sane (which describes 28 of the 30 GMs in the NBA if you're scoring at home) GMs know the Bulls are doing this to land LeBron James and Chris Bosh? Contrary to what people thought about the Grizzlies/Lakers trade in early 2008, which wasn't gift-wrapped (the Lakers gambled, mortgaged their future by giving up multiple draft picks -- one of which was used to draft OJ Mayo, an expiring contract worth $9M in Kwame Brown, the rights to Marc Gasol -- who may end up being better than his brother Pau and Javaris Crittendon in the process -- ALL to take the risk that Pau Gasol would acclimate to the Lakers' triple post offense quickly enough to be successful -- he did and so they won back to back titles. But it was a huge risk for a guy who was viewed as middling and grossly overpaid at $21M per leading up to the 2008-2009 season).
First of all, the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement has several "Exceptions" written into the language. With all the rumors, speculation and armchair GMs swearing up and down that they know something, I have to dispel this garbage with some hard facts that will either preclude or enable teams to make deals.
Secondly, the Heat may indeed find suckers to take on Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers (while surrendering draft picks and cash considerations in the process) in order to clear off the space they need to sign the two players they covet, but just as is the case with the Bulls, who is going to willfully help Pat Riley out while crippling their team in the process with two do-nothing players whose contracts, even when they expire, don't even enable the trade partner with the Heat to even sign a player above the Mid-Level Exception?
Segue.
The "Exceptions" are plentiful, let's get right to them.
Mid-Level Exception
A team is allowed to sign one player to a contract equal to the average NBA salary, even if the team is over the salary cap already, or if the signing would put them over the cap. This is known as the Mid-level exception (MLE). The MLE may be used on an individual free agent or split among multiple free agents, and is available to any team that exceeds the salary cap at the beginning of the offseason. The Mid-Level Exception for the 2008-09 NBA season was $5.585 million. The MLE is $5.854 million for the 2009-10 NBA regular season.
An example would be the Toronto Raptors' acquisition of Jason Kapono during the 2007 off-season, and the Los Angeles Lakers' signing of Ron Artest in 2009.
Bi-annual Exception
The bi-annual exception may be used to sign any free agent to a contract starting at $1.672 million. Like the mid-level exception, the bi-annual exception can also be split among more than one player, and can be used to sign players for up to two years, with raises limited to 8% per year. This exception was referred to as the "$1 million exception" in the 1999 CBA, although it was valued at $1 million for only the first year of the agreement.
An example of the bi-annual exception was the Los Angeles Lakers' signing of Karl Malone to a contract before the 2003-04 season.
Rookie Exception
The CBA allows teams to sign their 1st-round draft choices to rookie "scale" contracts even if their payroll exceeds the cap.
Larry Bird Exception
Perhaps the most well-known of the NBA's salary cap exceptions, it is so named because the Boston Celtics were the first team permitted to exceed the salary cap to re-sign one of their own players (in that case, Larry Bird). Free agents who qualify for this exception are called "qualifying veteran free agents" or "Bird Free Agents" in the CBA, and this exception falls under the auspices of the Veteran Free Agent exception. In essence, the Larry Bird exception allows teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents, at an amount up to the maximum salary. To qualify as a Bird free agent, a player must have played three seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. This means a player can obtain "Bird rights" by playing under three one-year contracts, a single contract of at least three years, or any combination thereof. It also means that when a player is traded, his Bird rights are traded with him, and his new team can use the Bird exception to re-sign him. Bird-exception contracts can be up to six years in length.
Early Bird Exception
This is the lesser form of the Larry Bird Exception. Free agents who qualify for this exception are called "early qualifying veteran free agents," and qualify after playing two seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Using this exception, a team can re-sign its own free agent for either 175% of his salary the previous season, or the NBA's average salary, whichever is greater. Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons, but can last no longer than five seasons. If a team agrees to a trade that would make a player lose his Early Bird Rights, he has the power to veto the trade.
A much-publicized example for this was Devean George, who vetoed his inclusion into a larger trade during the 2007-08 season that would have sent him from the Dallas Mavericks to the New Jersey Nets.
Non-Bird Exception
Free Agents who qualify for this exception are called "non-qualifying free agents" in the CBA, meaning they do not qualify under either the Larry Bird Exception or the Early Bird Exception. Under this exception, teams can re-sign a player to a contract beginning at either 120% of his salary for the previous season, or 120% of the league's minimum salary, whichever amount is higher. Contracts signed under the Non-Bird exception can last up to six years.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS
Minimum Salary Exception: Teams can sign players for the NBA's minimum salary even if they are over the cap, for up to two years in length. In the case of two-year contracts, the second-season salary is the minimum salary for that season. The contract may not contain a signing bonus. This exception also allows minimum-salary players to be acquired via trade. There is no limit to the number of players that can be signed or acquired using this exception.
Traded Player Exception: If a team trades away a player with a higher salary than the player they acquire in return (we'll call this initial deal "Trade #1"), they receive what is called a Traded Player Exception, also known colloquially as a "Trade Exception". Teams with a trade exception have up to a year in which they can acquire more salary in other trades (Trade #2, #3, etc) than they send away, as long as the gulf in salaries for Trade #2, #3, etc are less than or equal to the difference in salary for Trade #1. This exception is particularly useful when teams trade draft picks straight-up for a player; since draft picks have no salary value, often the only way to get salaries to match is to use a trade exception, which allows trades to be made despite unbalanced salaries. It is also useful to compensate teams for losing free agents as they can do a sign and trade of that free agent to acquire a trade exception that can be used later. Note this exception is for single player trades only, though additional cash and draft picks can be part of the trade.
Disabled Player Exception: Allows a team that is over the cap to acquire a replacement for a disabled player who will be out for either the remainder of that season (for in-season injuries/deaths) or the next season (if the disability occurs during the offseason). The maximum salary of the replacement player is either 50% of the injured player's salary, or the average salary, whichever is less. This exception requires an NBA-designated doctor to verify the extent of the injury.
Note that while teams can often use one exception to sign multiple players, they cannot use a combination of exceptions to sign a single player.
--------------
Now that I have put that out there, THE KNICKS HAVE BIRD RIGHTS ON DAVID LEE.
Why is this important? Because it dispels the notion that we cannot sign any players. The Knicks have 7 players under contract. The Heat only have 3 (before Wade opts out, IF he does). The Bulls only have 5. The Knicks have more tangible cap space than either one, because as I have mentioned many times before (and reiterated by explaining the exceptions in detail for the lackwits who refuse to cognate simply logic nor simply READ), we can sign TWO MAX CONTRACT PLAYERS, regardless of a sign and trade -- before even doing anything with Lee. We don't HAVE to trade him to Toronto (although the Raptors would like it, so would the Suns -- since they can possibly lose Stoudemire for nothing). We can sign him after signing two max players, to a near-maximum contract and exceed the salary cap in doing so, because that's what the whole Bird Rights clause was all about 20 years ago when it was instituted. But the idiots bellyaching the most on message boards and the talking heads on ESPN have yet to mention this, when it looms LARGE in this free agent market for 0'10.
Not to mention the full mid-level exception to add a player along the lines of Richard Hamilton (who plays the same position as Ben Gordon and is expendable) and Mike Miller and a host of other secondary wing players who would jump at the chance to win alongside of James and Bosh -- added to the youth of Douglas, Lee, Gallinari and Chandler.
After those players, the Knicks can make a qualifying offer to Sergio Rodriguez to ensure a steady backup, and/or trade Eddy Curry (who exercised his player option for 2010-2011 the other day -- and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next July at $12M; cap space for teams next offseason = big value), one of the 2010 picks in this year's draft by the Knicks, the Rockets' 1st round lottery-protected pick for next year and even cash considerations to either New Orleans (Chris Paul) or Denver (Carmelo Anthony).
I'm still waiting for ESPN or any other sports outlet to report these very real possibilities and not impossibilities such as James, Bosh and Wade playing together in Miami (with 7 total players and no bench whatsoever) or Rose, James, Bosh, Noah and whoever (when the Bulls will not have takers for Deng's contract to even make it happen to begin with -- and again, as with Miami -- NO BENCH WHATSOEVER).
Rob Parker is one of the few people who wrote an article even scratching the surface on this and it didn't even receive 100 comments (Miami and Chicago rumor-based columns received 3,000 apiece), and almost all of the comments on Parker's column were Knick bashers and people from outta town who have inferiority complexes to New Yorkers.
Hmmmmm.
M.D. Wright
7.1.10
I need to school some'a yah, because I swear I hear nothing but video game scenarios when it comes to these free agent signings. I blame ESPN partly for all of the fodder, because I think a lot of their willfully erroneous reporting of the salary cap situations of the Bulls and Heat (neither can sign two max salary players, despite everything that has been said over the past two weeks) has fueled the rampant speculation.
First of all, the Knicks are the ONLY team that can offer two max contracts. The Heat can only do so if Wade becomes a free agent (and he doesn't have Bird Rights). Even if he does so, the Heat must re-sign him and any two "max players" who were to go to to Miami would need to settle for 90% of the maximum salary (based off their previous contracts which expired on June 30, 2010 when they either became unrestricted or exercised out of their player options to extend their previous deals). Why this isn't being reported properly is beyond me.
Same with the Bulls. I hear James Johnson and Luol Deng being mentioned as sacrificial lambs with regards to clearing off the remaining space the Bulls need to be able to sign two guys. For one, James Johnson is on his rookie scale contract. That won't clear enough space. Deng is set to make a little over $11M in 2010-2011, but coming off an injury-riddled season and only being slightly above average as is, who wants that contract? Especially when all sane (which describes 28 of the 30 GMs in the NBA if you're scoring at home) GMs know the Bulls are doing this to land LeBron James and Chris Bosh? Contrary to what people thought about the Grizzlies/Lakers trade in early 2008, which wasn't gift-wrapped (the Lakers gambled, mortgaged their future by giving up multiple draft picks -- one of which was used to draft OJ Mayo, an expiring contract worth $9M in Kwame Brown, the rights to Marc Gasol -- who may end up being better than his brother Pau and Javaris Crittendon in the process -- ALL to take the risk that Pau Gasol would acclimate to the Lakers' triple post offense quickly enough to be successful -- he did and so they won back to back titles. But it was a huge risk for a guy who was viewed as middling and grossly overpaid at $21M per leading up to the 2008-2009 season).
First of all, the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement has several "Exceptions" written into the language. With all the rumors, speculation and armchair GMs swearing up and down that they know something, I have to dispel this garbage with some hard facts that will either preclude or enable teams to make deals.
Secondly, the Heat may indeed find suckers to take on Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers (while surrendering draft picks and cash considerations in the process) in order to clear off the space they need to sign the two players they covet, but just as is the case with the Bulls, who is going to willfully help Pat Riley out while crippling their team in the process with two do-nothing players whose contracts, even when they expire, don't even enable the trade partner with the Heat to even sign a player above the Mid-Level Exception?
Segue.
The "Exceptions" are plentiful, let's get right to them.
Mid-Level Exception
A team is allowed to sign one player to a contract equal to the average NBA salary, even if the team is over the salary cap already, or if the signing would put them over the cap. This is known as the Mid-level exception (MLE). The MLE may be used on an individual free agent or split among multiple free agents, and is available to any team that exceeds the salary cap at the beginning of the offseason. The Mid-Level Exception for the 2008-09 NBA season was $5.585 million. The MLE is $5.854 million for the 2009-10 NBA regular season.
An example would be the Toronto Raptors' acquisition of Jason Kapono during the 2007 off-season, and the Los Angeles Lakers' signing of Ron Artest in 2009.
Bi-annual Exception
The bi-annual exception may be used to sign any free agent to a contract starting at $1.672 million. Like the mid-level exception, the bi-annual exception can also be split among more than one player, and can be used to sign players for up to two years, with raises limited to 8% per year. This exception was referred to as the "$1 million exception" in the 1999 CBA, although it was valued at $1 million for only the first year of the agreement.
An example of the bi-annual exception was the Los Angeles Lakers' signing of Karl Malone to a contract before the 2003-04 season.
Rookie Exception
The CBA allows teams to sign their 1st-round draft choices to rookie "scale" contracts even if their payroll exceeds the cap.
Larry Bird Exception
Perhaps the most well-known of the NBA's salary cap exceptions, it is so named because the Boston Celtics were the first team permitted to exceed the salary cap to re-sign one of their own players (in that case, Larry Bird). Free agents who qualify for this exception are called "qualifying veteran free agents" or "Bird Free Agents" in the CBA, and this exception falls under the auspices of the Veteran Free Agent exception. In essence, the Larry Bird exception allows teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents, at an amount up to the maximum salary. To qualify as a Bird free agent, a player must have played three seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. This means a player can obtain "Bird rights" by playing under three one-year contracts, a single contract of at least three years, or any combination thereof. It also means that when a player is traded, his Bird rights are traded with him, and his new team can use the Bird exception to re-sign him. Bird-exception contracts can be up to six years in length.
Early Bird Exception
This is the lesser form of the Larry Bird Exception. Free agents who qualify for this exception are called "early qualifying veteran free agents," and qualify after playing two seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Using this exception, a team can re-sign its own free agent for either 175% of his salary the previous season, or the NBA's average salary, whichever is greater. Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons, but can last no longer than five seasons. If a team agrees to a trade that would make a player lose his Early Bird Rights, he has the power to veto the trade.
A much-publicized example for this was Devean George, who vetoed his inclusion into a larger trade during the 2007-08 season that would have sent him from the Dallas Mavericks to the New Jersey Nets.
Non-Bird Exception
Free Agents who qualify for this exception are called "non-qualifying free agents" in the CBA, meaning they do not qualify under either the Larry Bird Exception or the Early Bird Exception. Under this exception, teams can re-sign a player to a contract beginning at either 120% of his salary for the previous season, or 120% of the league's minimum salary, whichever amount is higher. Contracts signed under the Non-Bird exception can last up to six years.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS
Minimum Salary Exception: Teams can sign players for the NBA's minimum salary even if they are over the cap, for up to two years in length. In the case of two-year contracts, the second-season salary is the minimum salary for that season. The contract may not contain a signing bonus. This exception also allows minimum-salary players to be acquired via trade. There is no limit to the number of players that can be signed or acquired using this exception.
Traded Player Exception: If a team trades away a player with a higher salary than the player they acquire in return (we'll call this initial deal "Trade #1"), they receive what is called a Traded Player Exception, also known colloquially as a "Trade Exception". Teams with a trade exception have up to a year in which they can acquire more salary in other trades (Trade #2, #3, etc) than they send away, as long as the gulf in salaries for Trade #2, #3, etc are less than or equal to the difference in salary for Trade #1. This exception is particularly useful when teams trade draft picks straight-up for a player; since draft picks have no salary value, often the only way to get salaries to match is to use a trade exception, which allows trades to be made despite unbalanced salaries. It is also useful to compensate teams for losing free agents as they can do a sign and trade of that free agent to acquire a trade exception that can be used later. Note this exception is for single player trades only, though additional cash and draft picks can be part of the trade.
Disabled Player Exception: Allows a team that is over the cap to acquire a replacement for a disabled player who will be out for either the remainder of that season (for in-season injuries/deaths) or the next season (if the disability occurs during the offseason). The maximum salary of the replacement player is either 50% of the injured player's salary, or the average salary, whichever is less. This exception requires an NBA-designated doctor to verify the extent of the injury.
Note that while teams can often use one exception to sign multiple players, they cannot use a combination of exceptions to sign a single player.
--------------
Now that I have put that out there, THE KNICKS HAVE BIRD RIGHTS ON DAVID LEE.
Why is this important? Because it dispels the notion that we cannot sign any players. The Knicks have 7 players under contract. The Heat only have 3 (before Wade opts out, IF he does). The Bulls only have 5. The Knicks have more tangible cap space than either one, because as I have mentioned many times before (and reiterated by explaining the exceptions in detail for the lackwits who refuse to cognate simply logic nor simply READ), we can sign TWO MAX CONTRACT PLAYERS, regardless of a sign and trade -- before even doing anything with Lee. We don't HAVE to trade him to Toronto (although the Raptors would like it, so would the Suns -- since they can possibly lose Stoudemire for nothing). We can sign him after signing two max players, to a near-maximum contract and exceed the salary cap in doing so, because that's what the whole Bird Rights clause was all about 20 years ago when it was instituted. But the idiots bellyaching the most on message boards and the talking heads on ESPN have yet to mention this, when it looms LARGE in this free agent market for 0'10.
Not to mention the full mid-level exception to add a player along the lines of Richard Hamilton (who plays the same position as Ben Gordon and is expendable) and Mike Miller and a host of other secondary wing players who would jump at the chance to win alongside of James and Bosh -- added to the youth of Douglas, Lee, Gallinari and Chandler.
After those players, the Knicks can make a qualifying offer to Sergio Rodriguez to ensure a steady backup, and/or trade Eddy Curry (who exercised his player option for 2010-2011 the other day -- and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next July at $12M; cap space for teams next offseason = big value), one of the 2010 picks in this year's draft by the Knicks, the Rockets' 1st round lottery-protected pick for next year and even cash considerations to either New Orleans (Chris Paul) or Denver (Carmelo Anthony).
I'm still waiting for ESPN or any other sports outlet to report these very real possibilities and not impossibilities such as James, Bosh and Wade playing together in Miami (with 7 total players and no bench whatsoever) or Rose, James, Bosh, Noah and whoever (when the Bulls will not have takers for Deng's contract to even make it happen to begin with -- and again, as with Miami -- NO BENCH WHATSOEVER).
Rob Parker is one of the few people who wrote an article even scratching the surface on this and it didn't even receive 100 comments (Miami and Chicago rumor-based columns received 3,000 apiece), and almost all of the comments on Parker's column were Knick bashers and people from outta town who have inferiority complexes to New Yorkers.
Hmmmmm.
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