The yr is 2021. I’m running a blog in regards to the Lakers. The crew has didn’t defend its title and is buying and selling Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma whereas letting Alex Caruso stroll for nothing, and changing them with Russell Westbrook.
The yr is 2024. I’m running a blog in regards to the NBA. The Denver Nuggets have didn’t defend their title, and are letting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope go away for the Orlando Magic, and should add Russell Westbrook to their backcourt in his stead:
Additional proving that NBA time might transfer in patterns somewhat than a collection of distinctive occasions, this may even be the second time in two seasons {that a} crew has salary-dumped Reggie Jackson to the Hornets with a purpose to make room so as to add Russell Westbrook.
Now, clearly the context of those conditions is completely different. The Lakers didn’t ship out Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma for Westbrook due to second apron concerns (they’re low-cost and can seemingly by no means cross the second apron, but it surely didn’t exist but). They simply made a dumb commerce.
The Nuggets are cheaping out on KCP not only for monetary causes or as a result of they suppose Westbrook is nearly as good or higher, but in addition to keep away from the myriad of precise roster penalties that may come from extending him at his market worth, as my pal Ryan Blackburn summarized properly not too long ago at Mile Excessive Sports activities:
Sadly, writing a clean test, whereas actually interesting to Caldwell-Pope, isn’t in the very best curiosity of the Nuggets competitively. The second tax apron, a brand new stipulation agreed upon within the Collective Bargaining Settlement, isn’t only a monetary burden, however a aggressive one. The Nuggets won’t be able to make aggressive trades if they’re over the second apron. They won’t be able to make use of the Taxpayer Mid-Degree Exception in free company. Even their first spherical draft decide in 2032 will likely be “frozen” in the event that they end the top of the 2024-25 season over the second apron, which means they can not use it in future trades. In the event that they keep above the second apron in three of the following 5 seasons, that 2032 first spherical draft decide will likely be routinely despatched to the top of the primary spherical, no matter Denver’s document.
Nonetheless, whereas the context could also be completely different, it’s nonetheless exhausting to not really feel like Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen right here whereas watching the Nuggets echo the Lakers’ earlier mistake. Changing the last word 3-and-D wing with the last word… properly, reverse of these two qualities didn’t work out for the Lakers. Perhaps Jokic making Westbrook a champion is the ultimate means he can extra completely defeat LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers… but it surely’s tough to not be skeptical which may be past even his skills.
So we’ll see if this works out higher for Denver than it did the Lakers, however for now, it’s exhausting to not be bored with Earth. These folks. Bored with being caught within the tangle of their lives.
