The Money Behind The Announcement

The announcement from Jason Collins that he is the first active, openly gay professional athlete has caused a media circus.  Some people have voiced their opposition (like the vile comments from ESPN's Chris Broussard), but most, especially those in the sporting community, have expressed support and gratitude for this brave admission.  It must be an awful feeling to hide who you are for 30+ years, and an exhilarating feeling to finally be free from this burden.  Collins deserves all the praise that is being given.  To come out in a society where homosexuality is still being discriminated against, and to become the face of a movement that hopefully many will follow, is a type of courage that I'll never know.

That being said, there is another angle to look at this historic announcement, that being from the business side.  Because after all, basketball is a business.  There are three entities that have a business interest in this decision: The NBA, one of the 30 NBA teams, and Collins himself.

JASON COLLINS

Collins is a 34 year old center, who has played 12 years in the NBA and is without a team.  He began last year with the Boston Celtics, but was traded as an expiring contract to the Washington Wizards (an expiring contract is a player who is obtained because their contact is about to expire, thus wiping their salary off the obtaining teams books) and is now a free agent.  Collins has never been a great player in the NBA.  He had a wonderful high school career, and was one of the best in the nation in college.  But he came into the league when the center position was going out of style.  He's never averaged more than 7 points in a season, and at 34, is seen as a senior citizen as far as the NBA is concerned.

All of that has now changed with his coming out.  He has put the NBA in an odd position where a team may feel it a necessity to give him a contract despite his age and lack of ability, just to appease the public and support his decision.  While he most likely would have been out of a job a few days ago, Collins may find himself in a bidding war for his services.  This is not to say that his announcement was meant to prolong his career, but it may be a byproduct, and certainly debated by him and his inner circle.  And if so, good for him.  If he can manipulate the system to his benefit that would be wonderful.  After all, the system uses players year in and year out.  Plus, it would be an amazing thing for Collins to serve as a role model on the court for other athletes who are struggling with their identity.

NBA TEAMS

As stated above, most teams didn't have Jason Collins on their radar before Monday.  But now Collins his a massive blip on that radar.  He has become a figure who's reach goes far beyond the sports world.  And with this it opens the league, and more specifically a team, to an entirely new fan base.  This can be immensely lucrative for a team taking a flyer on Collins.  We only need to look back a few years with Tim Tebow to see the effects one transcendent player can have on a team.  Tebow, despite his lack of ability, became a national figure due to his fierce religious beliefs, bringing devout religious individuals to the game of football and his team, the Denver Broncos.  He and the Broncos prospered  due to media attention and memorabilia sales.  There is no question this same thing will happen if a team decides to sign Collins.  And I see no reason why a team wouldn't.  There are 30 teams in the league, and despite what they may say, many know they have no chance to compete for a championship next season.  Because of this there is no question one of these lesser teams will attempt to sign Collins to reap the financial windfall that will come with him.  The endorsements, the jersey sales, and the love of the LGBT community will all come along with Collins.  Many will come to basketball for the first time, and will root for whatever team Collins belongs to.

NBA

The NBA has developed a reputation for inclusion.  They employ every type of athlete: tall, short, white, black, American, foreign, etc.  They even employ female officials, the first professional league to allow this.  But on recent social issues they have a history of being at the forefront.  When Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive in 1991, the NBA stood by him.  Despite questions and criticism by some of their stars, the NBA never wavered, even allowing Johnson to play in that years all star game.  They helped humanize the disease, that up to that point was stigmatized and widely misunderstood.  The NBA backed Johnson through some comeback attempts and helped to educate not only their players, but the public.

Now they are taking on another polarizing social issue, and so far, have been amazing.  They have expressed inclusion in the past when it comes to homosexuality and a zero tolerance when it comes to discrimination, just recently fined superstar Kobe Bryant for using a gay slur directed at an official.  The league has praised Collins for his bravery and I have no doubt they will continue to support him through this process.  They know that they are building a reputation of diversity and acceptance, and with that reputation comes publicity and revenue.  This is not to imply that the league is doing this just for financial gain, but the Collins announcement does benefit their pocketbooks.

From any angle it's viewed, Collins' announcement benefits everyone except for those close minded, intolerant individuals who can't accept change.  And I'm sure there will be whimpering from these people in the days and weeks to come.  But this is an historic event, and I hope that Collins will be allowed to continue this journey next season on an NBA court.  That way he can feel the love and respect from NBA fans around the country every game.  Which is all any person, gay or straight, would want.

It's Time To End The Dwight Howard Era

In watching Dwight Howard slink off the court after his 3rd period ejection Sunday, which finally put to bed this atrocious Lakers season, one thought entered my mind:

Keep walking.

Howard is set to sign a max deal with the Lakers worth $118 million dollars this offseason.  The Lakers are clearly looking to him to be the centerpiece of the team for years to come.  But Howard has shown nothing this year, either on the court or off, that he is worthy of this type of money or this type of role within a franchise, let alone the greatest franchise in the sport.  The Lakers should take another look at this going forward and realize that Howard will not improve this team and his financial hit will actually harm them for years to come.  They should instead let him go.

Howard blew into town with all the hype in the world.  After a tumultuous offseason of rumors, Howard finally landed with a team that he seemed destined to play for.  The Lakers have a storied history of big men, and Howard looked the part to be next in line.  But once the games started, all the hype dissipated.

Howard looked uninterested, rarely trying or exerting himself.  He seemed to take plays off, and was not the dominate force he had been in Orlando.  While some of this most likely is the lingering results of off season back surgery, it continued for the entire season.  He'd show flashes of what he could do, but then revert back to his old self.  Despite this there were other clues that this experiment was on the road to failure.

Howard was lost most of the time on the floor, unable to find positioning where he could use his strength.  When he did receive the ball down low, he had no idea what to do with it, often times turning the ball over to smaller guards.  His basketball IQ is that of a high schooler, flustered when his 2 go to moves were taken away.  He spoke all season about being a leader, yet when the time came to lead after Kobe Bryant's year ended in injury, he went right back into his shell, posting terrible numbers against San Antonio before his game 4 ejection.  Some leader.

Regardless of these facts it still seems a forgone conclusion that he will sign with the Lakers.  But why?

Howard is still categorized as a center.  When most of us think of a center, we think of a big body posting up down low, backing defenders in, and crashing the boards with determination.  But this is not the current NBA.  There are only a handful of players who meet these criteria.  Most teams play a small, running game that a stereotypical big man would hinder.  You just need to look to defending champions Miami, who owns the best record in the league, who sometimes play a lineup with LeBron James at "center".  Even the NBA has acknowledged the shift, removing the "center" position from its all star ballot.

The Lakers decision would be different if Howard played like Shaquille O'Neal, who was an unstoppable force on the court who you could depend on when it mattered.  That player still would have a role in today's NBA, and would dominate as well.  This is not Howard.  And with the league becoming faster and more skill oriented, why invest in a player who has shown he is unwilling to improve or bring anything to the table other than his big body?

The other downside to the Lakers maxing out Howard will be the loss of Pau Gasol, either by trade or amnesty release.  The Lakers will need to shed salary, and Gasol is the logical man out due to his salary of almost $20 million.  Gasol is an extremely talented player who still has years left.  He is not a player that a franchise can build around, but he is a skilled star and a wonderful supporting player.  He unfortunately got stuck with a coach this year who had no idea of how to utilize his immense  talents, and was relegated to a bit player on the team.  With D'Antoni set to return (at this point at least) it would seem Gasol has no future with the Lakers, which is a shame.

There is no question Howard has talent.  But it seems that after all of these years, he just doesn't have the work ethic or the fortitude to improve or be the face of a team.  Leaders don't turn the ball over time and time again.  Leaders don't shy away from adversity.  Leaders don't get ejected from a do or die playoff game, leaving their undermanned team to fend for themselves.

The Lakers should explore a sign and trade deal with Howard in order to get some pieces back, and if that can not come to fruition, you let him walk.  The Lakers can endure another season of subpar play as they look forward to the free agent smorgasbord of the 2014 off season.  Assuming the Lakers do not sign Howard, they will only have Steve Nash on the books (and who knows if his body will allow him to stay around that long).  And look at these names who will be free agents.  The Lakers will still be "The Lakers" and will have the cap room, the history, and a leadership role to draw some big names Westward.

This all starts with the front office having the nerve to admit this Howard experiment did not work out, which I doubt they will do.  But here's hoping they open their eyes and realize what is best for future of the franchise and just like Sunday, allow Howard to keep walking.

The Celebration Of Failure

For years Lakers fans have poked and prodded Clippers fans for celebrating their teams minor achievements and wishful thinking.  You beat the Lakers?  Hang a banner!  You made the playoffs?  Let's get ready for the parade!  The Lakers faithful have always expected greatness, and anything less is looked at as a failure.  Clippers fans have had to endure this swagger again and again, knowing they really had no legitimate comeback to these taunts.

That is until Wednesday night.

After needing 81 games (and some help from the Utah Jazz) to even make the playoffs, the Lakers managed to eek out a win against the Houston Rockets to secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference.  When the final buzzer sounded, public address announcer Lawrence Tanter informed the crowd that the Lakers were now seventh in the West and will be heading to San Antonio to play the Spurs in the opening round.  This announcement was met with cheers and applause.

Huh?!

That night and the following day facebook's, twitter's and numerous articles were written pumping up this Lakers team, thrilled that they got the seven seed and even predicting not only a first round upset, but a deep playoff run.

My how times have changed.

The fact that Lakers fans are looking at this scenario as a positive is incredible.  In just one horribly inefficient, lackluster year, their expectations have fallen faster than the Lakers championship odds.

I understand trying to stay positive and rooting for your team through thick and thin, but what is it that is causing this rush to coronate this team besides unrealistic optimism?

They are without the heart and soul of their team, Kobe Bryant, after he put the franchise on his back and willed the Lakers to the finishline.  Unfortunately he wasn't able to make it there himself after being run into the ground by his head coach, who despite the fact a blind man could see he was ailing, refused to sit Bryant for even one play against Golden State.  I know LeBron James has had an incredible year on an incredible team, but in my mind Bryant is the league MVP.  There is no way the Lakers even sniff the playoffs if it weren't for his heroics game in and game out.  What he has done at 34 years of age is remarkable.  And seeing him literally leave everything on the floor against the Warriors, making two clutch free throws with a torn achilles then limping off the court, just seals it.

They are also dealing with an injured Steve Nash, who even if he plays during the San Antonio series, will not be 100%.  Nash may not be the player he once was, but I'm sure every Lakers fan would feel much more comfortable with the ball in his hands as opposed to Steve Blake's.  Even if he were 100%, is there anyone out there who even remotely thinks Nash could slow down Tony Parker defensively?  Anyone?  Bueller?

The first round also find the great Greg Popovich matching wits with the arrogance and ineptitude of Mike D'Antoni.  There are those who may be looking at the April 14 game in which the Lakers pulled off the win against the Spurs, but this is a red herring.  Popovich always coaches for the post season, resting his players when needed, and turns the dial down once seeding has been determined.  D'Antoni is STILL trying to figure out hs team.  His substitution patters are all over the place, he still has no clue how to use Pau Gasol and his absence of any defensive philosophy allows teams to run through the Lakers like water down a drain.  He's had 73 games to get this figured out, so using a lack of a training camp as an excuse is no longer valid.

This leaves us with a team who has no identity and no direction.  Dwight Howard is playing his best basketball, but he has weak fundamentals and the basketball IQ of a high schooler, the product of years of codling through the AAU circuit.  He constantly finds himself out of position offensively and will be a liability at the free throw line.  Pau Gasol is starting to find some direction, but is still a soft player who cannot be depended upon to come through when it matters.  Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks are still Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks.

Certainly the Lakers have a shot at succeeding in the playoffs.  They only need to look to their Staples co-tenants the Kings last year, as they went from the eighth seed to winning the Stanley Cup.  But the difference between the Lakers and that Kings team are the defined positions, excellent coaching, and a red hot player who carried the Kings during their run.  Basketball is not hockey.  The Lakers have shot 37%, missed countless 3 point shots and had immeasurable mental lapses the past few games.  You can not advance in the playoffs with those type of statistics.

Sure the Lakers may pull out a game or two against San Antonio, but anyone who is expecting more is fooling themselves.  A seventh seed in the West for the Lakers should not be looked at as some form of success, but as the failure it actually is.  Lakers fans are smarter than that.

Or are they?