Winston-Salem, NC -- I usually don't cover the NBA in this blog, but I read this fascinating story on ESPN.com the other day that bears repeating. The star point guard of the Washington Wizards, Gilbert Arenas, wants to take a paycut in order to keep the team intact with pending free agents on the horizon. Arenas, who has only played in a few games this year, will opt out of his current contract to become a free agent. However, F Antawn Jamison is a free agent following this season. Arenas told the Wiz's management to pay Jamison FIRST before paying him. Further, Arenas will take whatever is left over after Jamison is paid, even if that means taking a paycut. The thinking behind this move is that Arenas wants to keep the core of the Wiz intact (Arenas-Jamison-Butler). My first belief is building a long term successful team is "continuity." You can add star players to any roster, and with a few exceptions (2008 Boston Celtics), they'll always fail -- see the Redskins every year. Teams with continuity in their front offices, coaching staffs, and roster always succeed -- Spurs, Mavericks, Suns, and Jazz.
Look, Arenas is a month older than me, so even if he signs a short term contract (1, 2, or 3 years), he'll still be able to score a long-term contract before he hits the wrong side of 30. This offseason will be the last opportunity for Jamison (age 31) to secure a big time contract. No team is going to sign him for the amount that he's making now ($16.4M), but 6 years-$60M isn't poor man's money. If all goes according to (Arenas's) plan this offseason for the Wiz, I will personally buy an Arenas jersey this summer.
3 comments:
I wouldn't hold your hope out on Arenas. He has a tendency to say all kinds of things. One is usually in stark contrast to the previous. Still, it would be nice.
One other thing I'll say is that while you are right about continuity, it doesn't apply nearly as much for the NBA. There are only 5 guys on the court at a time for a team, and a superstar can make a massive difference. Lebron James immediately made the Cavaliers who they are now. The teams you mentioned do indeed have continuity and are successful. Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Dirk can do that to a franchise though. If the Wiz got Timmy, they would've been MUCH better from that moment on, most likely going to the playoffs every year, and therefore keeping the coaches intact. I think you are right about Utah though. There haven't been super duper stars there, but the continuity of coaching and management has kept them successful, I believe.
Good point -- NFL offensive and deefensive schemes are way more complicated than some basketball draw-up's. Was it a fluke that the Cavs made it to the Finals last year? Could be.
My point was that if you keep the management, coaching staff, and a core group of players intact, you'll be successful. And by successful, I mean making the playoffs every year. The Wiz are attempting to do this with Grunfeld, Eddie Jordan, and the trio of Jamison-Arenas-Hughes.
I hear what you are saying. I do think the Cavs were flukish, although if Lebron goes off again, there's no telling how far they'll go. That's exactly my point though about the NBA. Continuity is important, but having a superstar is, in many cases, more important.
That being said, who is Hughes? Stop living in 2004 buddy. This is the Arenas-Jamison-BUTLER show now!
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