In my last blog I mentioned conspiracy theories in the NBA and that the NBA was opening themselves to criticism by allowing Joey Crawford to officiate games involving the San Antonio Spurs.* Crawford’s history with both Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich was a recipe for disaster,** and disaster struck when Crawford walked onto the court to officiate Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Sure enough the final seconds of the game: Brent Berry draws contact from Derek Fisher, no foul called, missed shot, game over. Two days later the NBA admits a foul should have been called and conspiracy theorist are up in arms. Only in the NBA.***
*Never said I believe the theories, just that they are interesting
**What is the more ridiculous fight challenge?
a.55 year old Joey Crawford challenging 31 year old Tim Duncan to a fight
b.Dustin Diamond challenging Sgt. Harvey Walden to "combat," on Celebrity Fit Club
Ans: I’m gonna say Screech Powers vs. a Marine
***Not true. 2002 NFC wildcard game Giants vs. 49ers. Google it.
Well let me tell you something conspiracy theorist- the NBA is not the only sports league that is fixed…so is the NFL.
(cue the xylophone music to signify we are having a back in time/dream moment)
It was late April 2007 and Roger Goodell had just sent an email to Oakland Raiders GM Al Davis titled "Do this or I will have you murdered."* The order of the email was simple: send Randy Moss, the disgruntled Raiders receiver, to a major franchise on the east coast. A few days later Moss was traded to the New England Patriots for a fourth round draft pick in the next month’s upcoming draft. The Raiders used that pick on John Bowie, a defensive back out of Cincinnati who played in two games during the 2007-08 season. Randy Moss joined New England’s juggernaut offense, where both he and the Pats had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. At first Davis did not want to do the one-sided deal,** but knew he had to go through with it or Goodell would have him murdered.***
*Because that is what commissioners do to general managers.
**One-sided might be an understatement, for every tackle Bowie recorded Moss scored 23 touchdowns.
***Because that is what commissioners do to general managers.
Goodell’s plan worked beautifully for his league. The Patriots dominated teams early in the year, and by the time they blew out the previously undefeated Dallas Cowboys in week 5 at Texas Stadium whispers about an undefeated season could be heard around the league. By November 4, when they took down the defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome, even the most casual football fan was tuning in weekly to witness the Pat’s pursuit of perfection.
For the second half of the season every Patriots game was on national television and NFL officials were not going to let them lose.* The league then threw the cherry on top of their evil plan by making the Patriots play at New York for the final game of the regular season, and would allow it to only be seen on NFL network, a channel available to less than 1/3 the America.** There was such an outcry from fans hoping to witness perfection, the game was also played on two major network stations as well, making it the most widely broadcasted game in NFL history. Goodell saw how well his scheme had worked in the regular season and decided to fix the playoffs so the same two major media markets would meet in the Super Bowl. The Giants would go on to win one of the highest rated Super Bowls ever*** to cap off one of the greatest seasons in NFL history, and to think none of it would have happened with out Goodell’s email to Al Davis.
*How many extra chances where Brady and the boys given on their last second drive to beat Baltimore in the December 3 Monday Night game? I would try and look it up, but I am sure Goodell has destroyed all the tapes (because that is what commissioners do).
**The New York/Boston rivalry works great for baseball, why not football?
***The Super Bowl was the second most watched television program in American history behind the M*A*S*H finale.
When you look at what is written above, your first reaction should be "this guy is an idiot, there is no way a commissioner of a major American sport is going to try and fix his own sport." Then you may look at it again and realize that many of the statements written above have a good deal of truth to them and the theory of Goodell fixing the NFL could actually carry a little weight. After whatever drugs you were on the second time you looked at it begin wearing off, you will realize again that it’s just a ridiculous thought.
The NFL is NOT fixed. The Randy Moss trade was made because the Moss/Raider relationship was no longer conducive to creating a winning atmosphere of football in Oakland. All that followed throughout the rest of the season in the NFL was coincidence.*
Likewise, the NBA is NOT fixed. The Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Pau Gasol trades were made in hopes of restoring the winning atmospheres of previously great franchises.
*Go ahead and cue my Captain Coincidence theme.
Before we go on here I feel like I need to issue a disclaimer: To understand the Allen, Garnett, and Gasol trades you are going to have to use some logic and common sense. I realize that these two words have no place in the minds of conspiracy theorist. If you are a diehard conspiracy theorist you can just stop reading now.*
*I will however invite you to call into the show some morning and discuss how dogs can’t look up, lightning can’t strike the same place twice, and other stupid things you believe to be true with no factual basis.
First, let’s tackle the Ray Allen trade. Seattle was one of the bottom three teams in the Western Conference in 2006-07; and with 10 legitimate playoff contenders in the conference this season; their chances of doing anything were absolutely nothing. It makes perfect sense for Seattle to try and deal an aging injury prone superstar at the tail end of his prime (Ray Allen) to try and get expiring contracts and draft picks back to rebuild their franchise around their new young superstar (Kevin Durant).
The trade they finally reached with Boston was done just after the draft where they sent Ray Allen and the rights to Glen Davis from Seattle to Boston for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the rights to Jeff Green. Seattle turned around and dealt Wally and West to Cleveland at the trade deadline for three expiring contracts, giving them cap flexibility for the future. They also sent Kurt Thomas to San Antonio at the deadline for the Spurs’ first round draft pick in the next two drafts.
When all of their wheeling and dealing was done for the season Seattle now has 13 draft picks in the next three drafts. I’d like to have that money and that many young players to build around my core of 20 year old Kevin Durant and 22-year old Jeff Green as I move to Oklahoma City. Wouldn’t you?
Next, let’s move to the Kevin Garnett trade. The blind conspiracy theorist says that the Minnesota GM and former Boston Celtic Kevin McHale sent his franchise player to his old team just as a favor. You want me to believe McHale, who grew up in Hibbing, MN, went to the University of Minnesota, and draws a paycheck from the Timberwolves, doesn’t give a damn about professional basketball in his home state? You want to tell me this Hall of Fame player has that little respect for the integrity of the game? I also find it hard to believe that a competitor such as Kevin McHale has so little pride he would allow himself to be a pawn in David Stern’s chess game.*
The truth is, if McHale was doing anyone a favor, it was Kevin Garnett.** In October of 1997, when Garnett signed his record $126 million dollar contract, he said he wanted to retire in Minnesota and win a title in Minnesota. The closest Garnett and the T-Wolves could come was the Western Conference finals before falling to the Lakers. By the end of 2007 the window of opportunity had closed in Minnesota, they lost there final seven games of the season and finished third to last in the West.***
*This is a guy who to this day walks with a limp because he played the 1987 playoffs with a broken foot. His competitive drive and overall give-a-damn just disappeared?
**OMG!!! They are both named Kevin!!!! Someone call Oliver Stone.
***Ahead of only Seattle and Memphis. Its like all three of the teams involved in these trades have something in common I just can’t put my finger on it.
Minnesota sent KG to Boston so he could try to win the title he always wanted while they tried to build a future for themselves. In return for Garnett, Minnesota got their number 1 draft pick back (they had traded it to Boston a year earlier) along with Al Jefferson and a considerable amount of trash.* Jefferson in his one year in Minnesota has averaged 20 pts. 11 rbs. and 1.5 bpg. as a 23 year old, quickly developing into the best young center without serious injury questions not named Dwight Howard.** Minnesota now has a young big man, a top three draft pick along with last years first round draft pick Corey Brewer to build around for the next few years. That’s a lot better than finishing in the bottom half of the conference for the rest of Garnett’s time there.
*Unless you want to call 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner Gerald Green something other than trash…yeah me neither.
**Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden both need one healthy productive season before they can be considered better than Jefferson.
Finally, we move onto the Pau Gasol trade. The conspiracy theorist says "Grizzlies GM Jerry West traded his team’s franchise player to his old team (Lakers) so they could compete against their hated rivals (Celtics)." Interesting theory with one major flaw… Jerry West is NOT the GM of the Memphis Grizzlies!!! He left the team in April of last year before any of the three trades even being discussed happened.
And let’s be honest, Pau Gasol was not a franchise player in Memphis. His team finished last in the West in 2006-07 after making the playoffs the previous three years.* By the end of Gasol’s tenure he was being booed at home after being exposed as a soft, injury prone player incapable of leading a team.** The truth is Memphis waited too long to deal Gasol. He should have been traded in 2006, right after they dealt Shane Battier to Houston for Rudy Gay. The Grizzlies waited too long to rebuild and will pay for it for years to come. But hey, better late than never… right?
Screw that this franchise will be out of Tennessee by the end of the decade. At least this coming summer they will have Kwame Brown’s expiring contract (along with the money they no longer owe Gasol, that’s $50 million in cap relief) to throw at free agents to go along with Gay. And then they can use some of their young point guards (Kyle Lowry, Michael Conley, and Javaris Crittenton***) as trading pieces.****
*Gasol’s playoff record…0-12.
**It’s almost like Gasol is better as a number two option to a real leader like…I don’t know…KOBE?
***A 20 year old who was part of the Gasol trade.
****They also got a future first round pick from the Lakers and the rights to Gasol’s brother Marc.
What I’m hoping we have all learned here is that trades in the NBA, or any other league for that matter, happen for a number of reasons. Many times it will appear that a contending team got the better of a rebuilding team in the short run, but that’s not always the case.* We had the worst three teams playing in one the best conferences in the league’s history, knowing they could not compete this year, they decided to work towards the future. Is that so bad?
If you still think that David Stern sends threatening memos to front office executives around the league in hopes of increasing television ratings, you should have stopped reading back when I mentioned logic and common sense.
*It’s always great to see a team that got a lot of draft picks and young guys for a superstar, use them well and develop a dynasty. Do you think Jimmy Johnson would’ve rather had Hershel Walker in Dallas for a few more years or: bite the bullet, take a 1-15 season, and win back to back Super Bowls?