Redick: Complaining about superteams is garbage
NBA commissioner Adam Silver may have a problem with some of the league's top players joining forces to create "superteams," but to Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick, there's really no need to fret about it at all.
In a series of tweets the 32-year-old posted on Thursday afternoon, Redick discussed why the idea of there being a lack of competitive balance in the NBA is completely unwarranted.
Since Miami formed their "superteam" in '10 there have been 5 different champs in 6 seasons. All this complaining about comp balance is 🚮.
— JJ Redick (@JJRedick) July 14, 2016
The Miami Heat, featuring the "Heatles" trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, captured the NBA championship on back-to-back occasions in 2012-13. The Dallas Mavericks won in 2011, while the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy from 2014-16.
Teams with James on its roster have been in the Finals all six times, though.
Boston formed a "superteam" in '08 but did thru trades. Ok for teams to group greats 2gether but not for players to decide to do that?
— JJ Redick (@JJRedick) July 14, 2016
With Paul Pierce already on the Boston Celtics, management went out and acquired former league MVP Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for five players (Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, and Theo Ratliff), as well as cash considerations and two draft picks. Sharpshooter Ray Allen and "Big Baby" Glen Davis also came aboard in a deal with the Seattle Supersonics which cost the Celtics Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the No. 5 pick in the 2007 NBA draft (Jeff Green).
Players should have freedom to decide where they want to play. Period.
— JJ Redick (@JJRedick) July 14, 2016
With the NBA's salary cap hitting a record $94.143 million for the 2016-17 season, free agents basically had the freedom to sign wherever they pleased, as a majority of teams were afforded the financial leeway to make substantial offers to lure players.
Kevin Durant's decision to join the Warriors, though, appears to have been motivated by his desire to become a champion, and not for financial rewards. Aligning himself with stars in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green may seem cowardly to some, but that's a luxury he was afforded by being an unrestricted free agent, and one he was within the guidelines for doing.