The 3 Year Arms Race

The Houston Rockets signed Guard Eric Gordon to a 4 year extension worth $75.6 million dollars. This keeps the core of the Rockets team which include (James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela),together until to the 2022-2023 season. The fourth year of Gordon’s deal is non-guaranteed. It can become guaranteed if Gordon makes an All Star or the Rockets win the NBA championship during the length of the contract. This shows Gordon’s belief and commitment to the Rockets. The fact that he has tied a guaranteed  $20.9 million to the team winning a championship means he loves the teams chances. He can also get the fourth year guaranteed by earning a spot on an All Star team, but given his position and the fact he has two superstar teammates,  Harden and Westbrook, makes the chances of that happening rare. 

The NBA is in a unique position with many teams championship windows essentially being 3 years. When you look at many of the key free agency signings this off season they included an option either through player options or incentive based agreements for that final year. This includes Kawhi Leonard who aligned his contract with Paul George’s who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers with 3 years left . Even with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving they can both opt out after 3 years. It’s what the NBA wants enough time for fans to invest in the teams and players; but also short enough so that if things do not workout fans have hope that the teams can turn it around quickly . The next three years will be seen as a crucial time when we look back on NBA History as this will be the new normal. Lebron James started the trend in 2010 when he went to Miami but now it seems to be fully embraced by both the teams and players.

D12 Back In Los Angeles

Yesterday August 23rd the Los Angeles Lakers signed 8 time All - Star Dwight Howard who agreed to a buyout . This will be Howard's second go around with the first being in 2012 when he was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Lakers to form the super team that included Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. This is what both sides needed the Lakers needed a replacement for Demarcus Cousins who went down with a torn ACL. This gives Howard a chance to play for a contender after only playing 9 games last season before being sidelined with a back and hamstring injuries which kept him out for the remaining of the season. The last full season that Howard played he averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Howard signed a non-guaranteed contract which means prior to January 6th the Lakers can cut Howard without having to pay any additional money. Howard is expected to have the role of a rim protector and a rebounder. This role is perfect and with Howard being humbled over the years he has realized he needed to take the game more seriously. Also he was able to prove that his back is completely healthy. This is vital especially since his lone season with Lakers it was riddled with an on going back injury. I predict this will be a great resurgence for Howard and that he will be a vital part to Lakers winning games this year. I see Howard averaging 10 and 8 while playing about 20 minutes a game. He will  be in the running for 6th man of the year. 

Dominance Changes Rules

 Tuesday August 6th the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sent out a memo which outlines the new rules when it comes to the requirements for representing college  basketball student athletes when it comes to entering the draft who for those who want to test the waters. The new rules stated that in order for agents to represent student athletes they must meet 3 requirements which include having a minimum of 3 years of National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Certification, also taking an in person exam at the NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis. The most important requirement which has caused many to believe that the NCAA is targeting NBA super agent Rich Paul is the fact that the agents have to have a Bachelors degree. Rich Paul who represents stars such as Lebron James, Ben Simmons, and John Wall to name a few of his clients, does not have a college degree.

These new rules do seem to target Rich Paul who is a rising agent that many others do not like. Also the new rule does not seem to make much sense because the NBPA requires that you just pass the certification exam to become eligible to represent NBA Players. Also the idea that just because someone is college educated means that they are an ethical is false . This is the reason the NCAA gave as an explanation as to why they implemented this new criteria for being able to represent college basketball student athletes. All these new rules prove that Rich Paul is not only changing but dominating sports landscape as we know it. This is seemingly just the beginning and will be exciting to see what barriers Rich Paul will break next. 

When The Game Betrays You

“I felt like I loved the game more than the game loved me” Carmelo Anthony said this in an interview with Stephen A Smith on ESPN’s First Take. Carmelo spoke about now being able accept a lesser role when it comes to him coming off of the bench. This is a sign of growth from Carmelo who two years ago during his introductory press conference for the Oklahoma City Thunder laughed at the notion of him coming off the bench. Carmelo spoke about what went wrong while playing for the Houston Rockets . Carmelo mentioned that he was informed by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey about the team going in a different direction and no longer needing his services. Once he received this news Carmelo reached out to Chris Paul and James Harden about the situation. Both Paul and Harden said they had no idea about what Daryl Morey was doing. This seems to have been the point when Carmelo began to re-examine his role in the NBA. 

The one question that seems to keep Carmelo in NBA limbo is what is his value to an NBA team. Carmelo who from a talent standpoint should be on an NBA roster has to develop into a better catch and shoot three point shooter which will be difficult to do at this stage in his career. He’s a volume scorer who is inefficient and needs a rhythm to get going. Unless he dramatically improves his catch and shooting it will be interesting as to what teams see him as a fit. I believe Carmelo will be on a team this year I could see a team like the Indiana Pacers taking a chance since is a scorer of Carmelo’s prowess would put them in the conversation to win the East.