Strategizing to make an NBA franchise successful takes determination, foresight, and knowledge of the game.
Looking around today’s league, it is clear that the building block to this formula is talented players. The NBA is full of elite level talent, but star level players can take a franchise to the next level and alter its history.
Fans know that stars are key, and NBA owners know it as well. Teams posting embarrassing records are uplifted by the thought of possibly drafting a franchise-changing player (tank for Zioners, we’re looking at you).
Mavs owner Mark Cuban came under fire in recent years for suggesting the Mavericks tank away their star talent issues. They notably whiffed on free-agents for years after their title in 2011, most notably failing to sign Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, and DeAndre Jordan.
In more modern times, NBA stars have tried to recruit each other to their respective teams to avoid incurring tampering charges for the franchise. Draymond Green texted Durant to team up in Golden State, and the rest is history.
It’s a team game, but having star players and perhaps an even more transcendent star aids in long title runs.
Here are some of the most unusual ways teams have tried to recruit stars into their markets.
4. DeAndre Jordan
New York Knicks Center DeAndre Jordan found himself in a confusing situation in 2015 free agency after committing to leaving the Los Angeles Clippers for the Dallas Mavericks.
Cuban had finally landed all-star talent next to the aging Dirk Nowitzki, but the acquisition would not last long.
Jordan’s Clippers teammates came to visit him in order to convince him to stay onboard, ESPN reported.
In an even wilder turn of events, Mark Cuban himself was reported to be on his way to Jordan’s house to convince him from abandoning the verbal agreement.
The pitch, led by Houston Guard Chris Paul, ended successfully. Jordan re-upped with the Los Angeles Clippers to play once more with Blake Griffin and Paul.
None of the players are still with the franchise.
3. LeBron James
Pat Riley’s championship pitch convinced LeBron James to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, but it put the other team’s pitches into perspective.
James had been frustrated in Cleveland due to the lack of talent surrounding him, and the Heat could fill that void.
However, that did not stop other teams from trying to spice up their pitches with seemingly frivolous actions and promises.
The Cavaliers reportedly tried to use cartoon humor in order to play on the hometown relationship with LeBron, but it failed.
2. Dwight Howard
After being traded from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers, many fans thought that Howard would continue in another big man’s footsteps who also played for the two franchises.
Instead of another incarnation of Shaq, the Lakers got a whiny, one-year rental that saw the team fall from title contention. Since then, they have not returned.
Although Howard and Bryant did not work as well together on the court as many hoped, the Lakers attempted to pitch Howard to stay as the face of the franchise. Bryant had no plans to retire anytime soon.
Sensing the disconnect, the Lakers began running promotions themselves and placing advertisements around the city in attempts to get Howard to stay.
Unfortunately, none of the marketing tactics worked.
Howard would depart that summer to play with James Harden and the Houston Rockets.
1. Michael Redd
Michael Redd, a sharpshooter from Ohio State University, was also recruited in a peculiar way in free agency by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He had been coming off a standout season, and the Cavs were looking to add talent to their roster.
Avoiding tampering rules, somehow, LeBron James created a video for the Cleveland Cavaliers asking the former Buckeye to return to the Buckeye State.
Redd, however, opted to resign with the Milwaukee Bucks to effectively end any chatter about his departure from the team.
The Cavs would later decide to trade for his teammate, Mo Williams.
Follow Us
Subscribe