Small Market Teams Continue to Lose in Aftermath of Howard Trade to LA
Much like Hollywood's knack for re-imagining superhero movies during the summer time, we all knew long ago that it was only a matter of time before a new Superman was bound to return to the limelight.
The Los Angeles Lakers, after all, always seemed to be that team that lingered around the corner while the Dwight Howard saga was busy suffocating the life of NBA fans around the world.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic had every incentive to trade Howard, as the PR disaster he and Orlando management created with his up-in-the-air status was slowly destroying everything within it's way—from Stan Van Gundy to Otis Smith to the Magic's future.
So, we should all theoretically be happy that a season-long hostage situation finally culminated last night in a way that many will today write off as another storybook Hollywood ending.
Only, when's the last time that we all looked favorably at a scenario which saw history repeat itself?
Somewhere in London, commissioner David Stern first got word of this trade and welcomed it with a smile. One that many would assume suggested his satisfaction to a deal that will likely transcend the popularity of his league the same way it did two years ago when the Miami Heat's big three came together.
But anyone that's familiar with Stern's body of work knows that it wasn't a smile of satisfaction, but redemption.
Remember last year when the NBA was mired in a lockout because small market teams could never compete with the allure of big market teams- well, Stern did what he could to even the playing field.
And still, as we all get lost in excitement at the new landscape of the league, another city that never stood as big as it's star is left to reel in it's own pity.
As a Miami Heat fan and longtime Laker supporter, you'd think I'd be the last person to sing this tune.
In fact, I should be following ESPN's bandwagon to give this day to Mitch Kupchak, the architect of another brilliant Laker heist.
A man whose name by now should be deemed synonymous with the phrase having your cake and eating it too.
Not only did he secure the Lakers future but he did it in the process of also improving their present foothold in the championship race.
If that's not impressive, consider how many GMs that have come and gone in this league have tried for years just to do either...and failed miserably.
But that's really what this whole story comes down to—GMs.
If you're a small market team, you don't have the luxury of free agency because most big name players want to go to a big market team.
You also don't have the luxury of trades because most players that teams are trying to trade are overpaid—and small market teams don't have the kind of money to incur the risk of the luxury tax.
So, all you really have is the draft to make your mark. And small market GM's like Sam Presti have to basically nail the draft for their team to even be in the mix.
And then, they have to surround those guys with talent.
Except in the history of the NBA, how many superstars have we seen abandon a small market (for legitimate reason or not) for a big market?
Charles Barkley
Vince Carter
Tracy McGrady
Stephon Marbury
Amare Stoudemire
Dwight Howard
The list goes on and on.
Which is why guys like Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan are very rare.
And even then, consider how lucky their franchises were that they could surround them with talent immediately rather than rely on the long shots of free agency or trades.
So, as we all enjoy what will soon be another level of ascension in the NBA's popularity, take a moment to digest how much different the arc of your fandom would be if you simply grew up in another area.
And how today's storybook ending would be just another Shakespearean tragedy in your life.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
