What job would you want the least if you were an NBA GM? At first, I immediately thought the Wolves, but you can builda nice future with what you get for KG and your top 5 lotto pick. </p> I'd probably say the Knicks. High cap number, players noone wants, the NYpress breathing down your neck, seem to be perpetuallystuck on borderline playoff status no matter how talented they are...that job would be enough to "unglamorize" the GM job real quick.</p>
I think every team in the NBA can be turned around.</p> There's a lot of benefit to being way over the cap and in luxury tax land if your owner permits it. IT has a bunch of huge contracts that can be used to trade for max star players.</p> Like... ZBo!!!!!!</p> </p>
The Spurs because it is the easiest one to screw up. Plus when Timmy declines, the team is going down quickly.
Hmm, the Lakers? The whole Kobe thing is going to get worse before it gets better, if not this year then next.</p> I agree with DC that any team can be turned around as I've seen the Raps go from garbage to a decent team with a bright future. All in the matter of years.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shookem)</div><div class='quotemain'> Hmm, the Lakers? The whole Kobe thing is going to get worse before it gets better, if not this year then next.</p> I agree with DC that any team can be turned around as I've seen the Raps go from garbage to a decent team with a bright future. All in the matter of years.</p> </div>The Lakers, like the Knicks, have everything going for them. Large fan base, good arena, and history. </p> Unlike the Knicks, the Lakers are not in salary cap hell for the next few years, and can beblown up and rebuilt with young talent in order to become a great team again,just not in the length of time Jack Nicholson would like.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Spurs because it is the easiest one to screw up. Plus when Timmy declines, the team is going down quickly.</div></p> If I had to choose, this would be the team.</p> They're going to have to tank when the next Oden comes along - and get #1 in the lotto - to continue their winning ways.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shookem)</div><div class='quotemain'> Hmm, the Lakers? The whole Kobe thing is going to get worse before it gets better, if not this year then next.</p> I agree with DC that any team can be turned around as I've seen the Raps go from garbage to a decent team with a bright future. All in the matter of years. </p> </div>The Lakers, like the Knicks, have everything going for them. Large fan base, good arena, and history. </p> Unlike the Knicks, the Lakers are not in salary cap hell for the next few years, and can be blown up and rebuilt with young talent in order to become a great team again, just not in the length of time Jack Nicholson would like.</p> </div></p> I know they have everything going for them but then in turn they have the most to lose. The pressure to win in these markets is insane! Trust me, I get it with the Leafs in Toronto. Every year you don't win you have millions of people riding you. </p> They've got talent and could do something but anything besides winning it won't be enough (although I'm sure many Knicks fans would be happy with a playoff spot).</p> I agree though, cap and roster wise the Lakers aren't in that bad of shape.</p>
I disagree with the Wolves and Lakers...if you get what you're supposed to get for Kobe or KG, you'd be set up just as nice as any other rebuilding team. </p> I gotta add the Heat and Spurs too...once they start to decline, those are going to be some ugly situations.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shookem)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shookem)</div><div class='quotemain'> Hmm, the Lakers? The whole Kobe thing is going to get worse before it gets better, if not this year then next.</p> I agree with DC that any team can be turned around as I've seen the Raps go from garbage to a decent team with a bright future. All in the matter of years. </p> </div>The Lakers, like the Knicks, have everything going for them. Large fan base, good arena, and history. </p> Unlike the Knicks, the Lakers are not in salary cap hell for the next few years, and can be blown up and rebuilt with young talent in order to become a great team again, just not in the length of time Jack Nicholson would like.</p> </div></p> I know they have everything going for them but then in turn they have the most to lose. The pressure to win in these markets is insane! Trust me, I get it with the Leafs in Toronto. Every year you don't win you have millions of people riding you. </p> They've got talent and could do something but anything besides winning it won't be enough (although I'm sure many Knicks fans would be happy with a playoff spot).</p> I agree though, cap and roster wise the Lakers aren't in that bad of shape.</p> </div>I know what you mean. I live in New Jersey, close to New York and there's always pressure.</p> But I don't see the Lakers becoming a championship contender with Kobe at this point unless they can package a deal together for KG.I think they have to have some down years like they did from about 92-96, get some cap room, draft young talent. </p>
No, they'll have Wade and a bunch of old players with bad contracts surrounding him. The classic "one man team". I think he'll end up being traded honestly.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dre)</div><div class='quotemain'> No, they'll have Wade and a bunch of old players with bad contracts surrounding him. The classic "one man team". I think he'll end up being traded honestly.</p></div>From Storyteller's site. Unless they add a bunch more old players, that won't be a problem once Shaq's contract is up. Shaq will be able to contribute through the length of his contract.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="3164" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 2375pt"><tbody><tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt"><td class="xl42" height="21" style="height: 15.75pt"></td> <td class="xl43"></td> <td class="xl44">ACTUAL</td> <td class="xl44">2007-08</td> <td class="xl44">2008-09</td> <td class="xl44">2009-10</td> <td class="xl44">2010-11</td> <td class="xl44">2011-12</td> <td class="xl44">2012-13</td> <td class="xl44">SIGNED USING</td> <td class="xl45">NOTES</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="21" style="page-break-before: always; height: 15.75pt"> <td class="xl40" height="21" style="height: 15.75pt">MIAMI</td> <td class="xl50">Shaquille O'Neal</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">20,000,000</td> <td class="xl27">20,000,000</td> <td class="xl27">20,000,000</td> <td class="xl27">20,000,000</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="3"></td> <td class="xl27">Bird Rights</td> <td class="xl32">Contract has trade kicker<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 8/2/05 for an assumed $100,000,000 for 5 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl40" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Dwyane Wade</td> <td class="xl62" style="border-left: medium none">13,041,250</td> <td class="xl63">13,041,250</td> <td class="xl27">14,410,581</td> <td class="xl27">15,779,913</td> <td class="xl61">17,149,244</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="2"></td> <td class="xl27">Bird Rights</td> <td class="xl32">BYC until 7/1/08<span> </span>/<span> </span>Counts as $6,520,625 for trade purposes (BYC player)<span> </span>/<span> </span>Extension has a 15% trade kicker<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed extension on 7/12/06 for an assumed 4 years for $60,380,988</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt">25,165,772</td> <td class="xl50">Jason Williams</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">8,937,500</td> <td class="xl27">8,937,500</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="5"></td> <td class="xl27">Bird Rights</td> <td class="xl32"></td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt">Over The Cap</td> <td class="xl50">Antoine Walker</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">8,329,640</td> <td class="xl27">8,329,640</td> <td class="xl27">9,052,460</td> <td class="xl61">9,775,280</td> <td class="xl27">10,498,100</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="2"></td> <td class="xl27">Bird Rights</td> <td class="xl32">2009-10 and 2010-11 not guaranteed if waived before 6/30/09, fully guaranteed after that<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 8/2/05 for an assumed $52,146,300 for 6 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl40" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Udonis Haslem</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">6,050,000</td> <td class="xl27">6,050,000</td> <td class="xl27">6,575,000</td> <td class="xl27">7,100,000</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="3"></td> <td class="xl27">Early Bird Rights</td> <td class="xl32">Signed 8/2/05 for an assumed $30,250,000 for 5 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl40" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Michael Doleac</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">3,120,000</td> <td class="xl27">3,120,000</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="5"></td> <td class="xl27">MLE</td> <td class="xl32">Player Option for 2007-08 picked up on 6/30/07<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 7/15/04</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Alonzo Mourning</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">2,762,500</td> <td class="xl27">2,762,500</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="5"></td> <td class="xl27">Early Bird Rights</td> <td class="xl32">2007-08 contract is not guaranteed if waived before 8/10/07, fully guaranteed after that<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 8/18/06 for an assumed $5,262,500 for 2 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Dorell Wright</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">2,040,746</td> <td class="xl27">2,040,746</td> <td class="xl37">2,910,104</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="4"></td> <td class="xl27">1st Round Pick</td> <td class="xl32">4th year option for 2007-08 picked up on 9/15/06<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 7/27/04</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Daequan Cook</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">1,184,400</td> <td class="xl27">1,184,400</td> <td class="xl27">1,273,200</td> <td class="xl48">1,362,120</td> <td class="xl48">2,169,857</td> <td class="xl37">3,126,764</td> <td class="xl27"></td> <td class="xl27">1st Round Pick</td> <td class="xl32">Signed 7/5/07</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl40" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Wayne Simien</td> <td class="xl46" style="border-left: medium none">997,800</td> <td class="xl27">997,800</td> <td class="xl48">1,801,029</td> <td class="xl37">2,701,544</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="3"></td> <td class="xl27">1st Round Pick</td> <td class="xl32">3rd year option for 2007-08 picked up on 9/15/06<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 8/12/05</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Chris Quinn</td> <td class="xl64">687,456</td> <td class="xl27">687,456</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="5"></td> <td class="xl27">Minimum Salary</td> <td class="xl32">2007-08 contract is not guaranteed if waived before 7/20/07, fully guaranteed after that<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 7/6/06 for an assumed minimum salary for 2 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Jeremy Richardson</td> <td class="xl64">687,456</td> <td class="xl27">687,456</td> <td class="xl27">797,581</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="4"></td> <td class="xl27">Minimum Salary</td> <td class="xl32">Contract is not guaranteed<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 7/5/07 for an assumed minimum salary for 2 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Joel Anthony</td> <td class="xl64">427,163</td> <td class="xl27">427,163</td> <td class="xl48">711,517</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="4"></td> <td class="xl27">Minimum Salary</td> <td class="xl32">Contract is not guaranteed<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 7/5/07 for an assumed minimum salary for 2 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">Marcus Slaughter</td> <td class="xl64">427,163</td> <td class="xl27">427,163</td> <td class="xl48">711,517</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="4"></td> <td class="xl27">Minimum Salary</td> <td class="xl32">Contract is not guaranteed<span> </span>/<span> </span>Signed 7/5/07 for an assumed minimum salary for 2 years</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">(Earl Barron)</td> <td class="xl51" style="border-left: medium none">973,328</td> <td class="xl37">973,328</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="6"></td> <td class="xl32">Qualifying Offer made on 6/29/07</td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">(James Posey)</td> <td class="xl68">9,588,150</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="7"></td> <td class="xl32"></td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">(Eddie Jones)</td> <td class="xl68">770,610</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="7"></td> <td class="xl32"></td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl47" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl50">(Gary Payton)</td> <td class="xl68">770,610</td> <td class="xl27" colspan="7"></td> <td class="xl32"></td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="11" style="height: 8.25pt"> <td class="xl55" height="11" style="height: 8.25pt"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl56"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl55"></td> <td class="xl57"></td> <td class="xl33" colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="20" style="height: 15pt"> <td class="xl40" height="20" style="height: 15pt"></td> <td class="xl58">TOTALS</td> <td class="xl59" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none">80,795,772</td> <td class="xl49">69,666,402</td> <td class="xl49">58,242,989</td> <td class="xl49" colspan="5"></td></tr></tbody></table>
Ok, but even still, what kind of pieceswill they have to trade and improve? Expiring contracts, that's about it.
I wouldn't want to be the Knicks GM because there would be so much pressure but I think they can be turned around pretty easily.
The Knicks...</p> </p> Not only are you in luxury tax hell, but the media is going to rip you apart no matter what you do.</p>
It's an interesting case to make for the Spurs, but I think I'd end up going for the Lakers.</p> With the Spurs, you've got a good cap situation and a few years left of Duncan, Manu and Parker signed to totally reasonable deals. And guys like to come play with them. Maybe in a few years it sucks, but if you can put the right role players in place for a few more years you get a title or two out of it. You can't say that almost anywhere else. </p> </p> The Lakers look like a really awful situation to me. They've got some of the "can't lose" mentality there that the Knicks have to deal with, but they don't have quite the resources to work with (a willingness to spend almost unlimited money) and they don't have much in the way of assets oweing to several fairly iffy decisions. And if Kobe has another tantrum and really forces a move, they won't get dick for him. And he will have another tantrum because they won't be that good. </p>
