The NBA is comprised of 30 teams that form an entertaining and competitive league. However, this summer's free agency period saw one of its top players (a former MVP) join a championship team one game away from repeating in the NBA Finals.
There has been a lot of angst from many fans of the other teams and analysts alike. They feel as though it goes against the spirit of competition. Truth of the matter is, a free agent is “free” to sign with whomever he wishes, within the rules.
Sure, it makes the Warriors heavy favorites to win the championship next season while simultaneously eliminating one of their biggest threats, but the NBA has always had dominant teams with multiple All-Stars over the years, and it has never ruined the NBA. It takes a lot to win in this league, but how does Kevin Durant signing with the Warriors affect the rest of the league?
Competitive balance –
If you’re waiting for an NFL-type of parity to hit the NBA, it will probably never happen. Commissioner Adam Silver believes in encouraging strong competition, but can’t automatically make it happen.
He spoke with reporters during the NBA Finals about the matter:
We're never going to have NFL-style parity in this league. It is the nature of this league that certain players are so good that those teams are likely almost automatically, if that player remains healthy, to become playoff teams, and especially mixed with other great players.
As long as players can control where they want to play and whether they feel it necessary to take a pay cut to do so, lowering the salary cap ceiling only helps so much. There will always be dominant teams in the NBA, and less dominant ones. Durant joining an already great team in the Warriors has made them even more dominant on paper.
His former team is still talented, but it’s tough to replace a player of his caliber. Although it boosted one team, it makes another (the Thunder) on a more equal level with the rest of the Western Conference.
Between 1980 and 2014, seven teams have won 33 of the 35 NBA titles. One thing that has been evident throughout the NBA's history, though, is that pairing multiple stars together doesn’t always work.
What this new Warriors team has done is change the way teams think about competing. Owners will have to be willing to pay more, possibly even live in luxury tax land to be on top. Additionally, players will have to sacrifice in one area or another, either taking less money on their contracts, taking fewer shots, having to share the leadership role, or taking a significant drop in their role. Those are all things they must consider now.
Small market and big market teams both have more cash to play with, and they need to be more prudent. Some of the revisions in the league's CBA have made it easier for less lucrative franchises to compete for free agents, so it doesn't lean as heavily as it used to.
Now, teams have to make important choices if they don't want to get stuck in the middle of the road. Either compete to win, or build a tight and talented young core that has a chance to become a championship contender in time.
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