Jerry West: Teams shouldn't give in

"I honestly think I'd call their bluff," West said in an interview on 710 ESPN's Mason and Ireland show Thursday, not mentioning Howard specifically. "I really would, because I don't think any agent or player is going to leave $30 million on the table.

"If I were an executive on a team where a player says he's going to leave, let him leave," . "It would be better than saddling yourself with a bunch of players that are not going to fit in to what you're trying to do -- high-salaried players, in many cases overpaid players by today's standards, that would burden you going forward."I'd almost rather start over again myself. You're not going to replace that player, but there's an enormous penalty there and it looks like to me like the inmates are running the asylum if you let that happen."

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4 months ago tafkasam 21 comments 1 recs |

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Its easy to say in theory, but its a completely different thing to actually be in the situation knowing you could lose everything instead of trading for value (see Utah, Williams).

This is like paper trading stocks. You could say on paper I would buy here and sell there and make big bucks, but when you actually start trading with real money on the line your decisions immediately change due to psychological influence of fear and greed.

by G-State on Feb 3, 2012 5:16 PM PST reply actions

Although I do like the attitude, a lot.

I’m just saying, if they really were in that situation I’m sure the fear of losing everything for your franchise would play a much bigger role than when you are talking to someone on the phone in casual conversation.

by G-State on Feb 3, 2012 5:18 PM PST up reply actions

Well he's not saying don't make a trade.

He’s saying only make one if you find one worthwhile.

Don’t make a trade to get SOME value back. Either get a good deal on a bunch of young players on small contacts and picks, or let him walk. Plus, I do wonder what players would do if they had to leave $30M on the table. We haven’t seen that situation yet, and both Carmelo (post-trade) and Dwight (pre-trade) have made indications that they re-signing was a possibility if they were not traded.

http://nbawarriors.wordpress.com/

by Brownie13 on Feb 3, 2012 8:43 PM PST up reply actions

the knicks let carmello take control of his situation and look at them compared to the nuggets

Jerry west is wise. Warriors are in good hands. Lord willing he’ll be around when the warriors are a perennial playoff team

by Xtremelink on Feb 3, 2012 5:56 PM PST via mobile reply actions

How did the Knicks let Melo control the situation?

The Knicks didn’t let Melo take control of the situation, in fact New York took control of the situation by trading for him mid-season instead of waiting until free agency where they could have gotten him for much less.

And Jerry’s comments are irrelevant to the recieving team (New York). They only apply to the giving away team (Denver). Denver let Melo take control of the situation, not New York.

by G-State on Feb 3, 2012 6:30 PM PST up reply actions

Remember mello was hinting he might not be happy if the trade didn’t go through. About 72 hours later he was a Knick. The nuggets took advantage of the fact new York didn’t wait till the off season and grabbed a couple good players.

by Xtremelink on Feb 3, 2012 6:37 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

the nuggets have had the third best record in the league since

And melo has pretty much ruined amares career in new York. As well as dantoni.

by Xtremelink on Feb 3, 2012 6:42 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I think Dolan got played, mostly

Knicks could have had him for less or free in summer

by tafkasam on Feb 3, 2012 6:46 PM PST up reply actions

I don’t think Dolan got played as much as Dolan is just an idiot.

by Missing Barry on Feb 4, 2012 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

well..... so you'd say he gets played quite often :)

I’d agree.

by tafkasam on Feb 4, 2012 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

Too bad the NBA is ALL ABOUT letting the inmates run the asylum.

smh..

WHAT!??!?!?!?!?!?!

by true torture on Feb 3, 2012 11:55 PM PST reply actions

No different than MLB/NFL:, IMO

Just seems higher profile because their are less players, they have a greater impact and NBA markets individuals more than ANY league.

In almost all cases, if the player is surrounded by the pieces to win a title, they stay. How many times have we seen big time players go to Yankees/red sox in baseball? It’s not even a big deal anymore. Oh Adrian Gonzalez, sorry SD, he’s moving to ‘big leagues’ now.

NFLs a little different but the individual also has the smallest impact so by nature, their value is the smallest, thus their leverage is the smallest. With high profile QBs you see no different.

I stand by my belief. The problem with Orlando is Otis Smith. THe problem with Cleveland was Danny Ferry. You have been given the gift of a sup-a-stah. Something about 25 other NBA teams would die for. Something, we haven’t seen in decades, heck we haven’t sniffed the potential of since Webber. Give me a superstar and watch me build a team. It’s a much easier prospect.

by tafkasam on Feb 4, 2012 8:40 AM PST up reply actions

You think every GM of a small market team is just terrible?

There’s gotta be something wrong where it’s just amazingly hard for the Cavs or Magic to bring people in to play with LeBron and Dwight, yet the Lakers worked out a shady deal to bring in Pau Gasol to revive their franchise.

I refuse to believe that every small market GM sucks but all the big market ones are just so intelligent.

The NFL has great control over their players. Hard cap, less guaranteed contracts, players never force themselves out. The MLB has more control and they don’t have a salary cap. Their control lies in the 25 players who all matter per roster, versus the 5-6 that matter on an NBA roster. I’m sorry, but the NBA is letting players run wild. When you have 5 players on a court at the same time you better make sure you have power otherwise one can run everything. The Padres losing Adrian Gonzalez cost them like 5 wins out of 162 games. Losing LeBron James cost the Cavs like 30 wins at least!

WHAT!??!?!?!?!?!?!

by true torture on Feb 4, 2012 5:20 PM PST up reply actions

The NFL has great control over their players. Hard cap, less guaranteed contracts, players never force themselves out.

Hmm? Holdouts don’t happen in the NFL?’

The Padres losing Adrian Gonzalez cost them like 5 wins out of 162 games. Losing LeBron James cost the Cavs like 30 wins at least!

This has nothing to do with the business side of the sport – that’s just how the sport goes. Basketball players can do more about winning then baseball or football. They do less than say….tennis or golf (for obvious reasons). Different sports are different.

I refuse to believe that every small market GM sucks but all the big market ones are just so intelligent.

They don’t. The Spurs have been awesome. The Thunder have been good lately. Blazers have done lots of good things. On the other hand, the Knicks, Clippers, Warriors, Nets have generally been terrible. I don’t think it holds at all that all small market GM’s are good and big ones are bad.

by Missing Barry on Feb 4, 2012 7:08 PM PST up reply actions

They don’t. The Spurs have been awesome. The Thunder have been good lately. Blazers have done lots of good things. On the other hand, the Knicks, Clippers, Warriors, Nets have generally been terrible. I don’t think it holds at all that all small market GM’s are good and big ones are bad.

Bingo. It’s easier to be a big market GM. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to be a small market one. You just have to be a bit more attentive and you have less room for error

by tafkasam on Feb 5, 2012 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

Cleveland did mess up

They were capped out since 2005, and drafted poorly pre-post lebron.

Compare that to OKC or San Antonio who drafted well after they got their stud (duncan/durant) and got good pieces and maintained flexibility to get a guy like Perkins.

Yes it’s harder to be a small market GM, but if you’re intelligent, you can build a winner.

by tafkasam on Feb 5, 2012 9:25 AM PST up reply actions

Cleveland thought LeBron would return

look how that turned out. Players want to be on a competitive team. Orlando is not a competitive team. They are a bunch of shooters who are playing well because Dwight requires so much attention.

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by doubleteapot on Feb 4, 2012 9:27 AM PST reply actions

Carmelo demanding out helped the Nuggets.

Got rid of an overrated, highly expensive player for young, cheap, better talent.

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Feb 4, 2012 1:24 PM PST reply actions

Obviously not the case with Howard but just pointing this out.

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Feb 4, 2012 6:30 PM PST up reply actions

Hmm, I think Dolan helped the nuggets

He was desperate for Melo. Nets dropped out. Nuggets held strong.

I bet if Melo wanted to go to Lakers (for ex.), they wouldn’t have got same package, because Buss and co. aren’t as stupid as Dolan to sell farm for him. They’d get him on their terms.

by tafkasam on Feb 5, 2012 9:27 AM PST up reply actions