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How “The Triumvirate” Could Change The NBA

Submitted by Chris J The Genius on July 10, 2010 – 12:07 pm39 Comments
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Change is usually met with more than its share of opposition. The landmark decisions by Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh to join forces via the Miami Heat is no different. With many people downplaying and ridiculing the thought of the three of them sharing the spotlight, let’s take a look at why—in some cases—change is good.

***Sidenote: Before we get into how these three could forever change the house that David Stern built, we’d like to say that it’s time to give Mr. James a break. He had the right to make a decision, and certainly could not have pleased everyone. No actions taken by any one team over the past few years obligated James to choose to play for that team. He never committed to remaining on one team for his whole career. He doesn’t owe anyone anything, and it is not his job to stimulate any large metropolitan area’s economy, even if he did so for seven years. It was his choice, he made it, and it’s up to us to respect it and move on.***

What these three have done is a landmark in sports history for several reasons. Beyond the obvious fact they are combining three of the largest names and talents in the NBA on one team, the trio has declared their independence—so to speak—with the big move. Indeed, they have delivered a slap to the deserving face of an industry that all too often has proven it is concerned with monetary gain, not the lives drastically changed or ruined in the process.

In fact, this industry has already been likened to the American institution of slavery for the fact that while these athletes run up and down the court after a ball, it is the suits sitting in the luxury boxes who actually set the rules and parameters as to how the money can be made, with very little control or say being offered to the athletes who actually fill seats and generate revenue. Ultimately, many athletes seem to end up trading their freedom for the perks and funds which come with their careers.

The Triumvirate have sent a message to the owners of their former teams as well as to the league itself: “You don’t own us.” The fact such an attitude has the potential to become contagious is all the more reason for the scathing remarks from Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith. Can you imagine what would happen if this type of thinking took off in the world beyond sports? We would likely experience “the revolution” itself.

The league may change in interesting ways. Going forward, clauses may be put into players’ contracts denying or significantly curbing the types of discussions held by the Miami Thrice and/or elaborate live television announcements like The Decision, which aired on ESPN Thursday night. It all became such a debacle that the league may decide it never wants to relive it.

Secondly, teams will have to work harder to retain their talent by building championship-caliber teams. (The fact that only a few non-player personnel moves were made in Cleveland may indicate the team’s staff thought they were shoe-ins for keeping LeBron). The NBA has made a great deal of money form isolating the foremost talents in various cities and surrounding them with largely replaceable supporting casts. The days may just be numbered for such a formula.

If the Heat are successful—meaning, they can win more than one championship together—we may see more “super squads” form. The message here is money is secondary to the ring. Case in point: Barring a supernatural curse on the rest of the league, Joe Johnson has probably accepted a legacy of basketball mediocrity along with his $123 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks.

It should also be noted a higher level of respect and autonomy in the free-agency process may be required for teams to retain quality talent. According to ESPN, Chris Bosh was in highly contentious talks with the Toronto Raptors after feeling that the team was trying to dictate to him what choices he had, talks which may have made his eventual decision a little easier.

Furthermore, it is possible, although far less likely, that more tax loopholes may emerge in a few states as a result (at least partially) of this new Miami dream team. Florida does not have a state individual income tax, a fact which may have played a role in making this deal possible. The numbers may have been tallied for all three players in an attempt to show them that while they would see gross pay cuts, they could make a comparable amount in net pay.

Ultimately, players that have been expected for so long to give their loyalty and efforts to teams which waive and trade them once their best years are done may finally end up in the driver’s seats of their destinies and careers because a bold triple threat was willing to make the first step toward their collective goal.

With that said, it wouldn’t surprise me if a vocal and somewhat frustrated Chris Paul soon becomes part of the next chapter of NBA dream teams.

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