Re: Untouchables

["James A. Hill" <jahill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<Jim said:
>>I believe that if it would make a true difference to winning, Gaston would
>>pay what he needed to.

Kim said:
>Fair enough. I disagree and think that most of what he did was pure good
business to get a better return on investment,
>which is why I don't see him doing something that's unlikely to have a
significant enough increase on return in his opinion. >Hopefully I'm wrong.

Remember he gave Walker the Max and frankly he hasn't earned it until last
year, IMO.  Nor has McCarty, Anderson, Battie, Williams, etc...  In the past
they had players who wanted to win and were paid after they did.  Unlike
this new era of players.  When your paying good money and the players aren't
earning it, you need to wait until the players catch up to their contracts
before you take the next step.

His family could have and probably should have, sold off the Big Three and
restocked like the Bulls did.  They didn't and I'm glad they didn't.  The
"Bird Rule" came into effect under the Gaston family stewardship.  It's one
thing to pay your players for winning, it's another to waste money so
someone gets the "respect" they think they deserve.

The disasters that have been the injuries to Bird and McHale (early
retirement), the deaths of two key guys, the past drafts, Acie Earl,
Montross, Smith, then the Pitino era folly.  It's amazing that this team has
made it to where they are with such basketball management miscues.

That said, the season tickets I share with others have gone up almost 32%
this year from $72.00 to $95.00 a seat! I hope the team improves by 32% as
well.



<Jim said:
>>Anyone can overpay, but to win
>>within the system is the idea.  Ask the Lakers, they don't need to overpay
>>to win.

Kim said:
>Now, no. But that's not the way Shaq's original contract with them was
viewed and that was really the basis for being able >to attract the rest.

Shaq was easily going to be the single most dominate player in the league
when they signed him.  Picking up Kobe (the same draft as Walker) just shows
how brilliant West has been (Being in La-La land with the weather, movie
stars, swimming pools... hasn't hurt his brilliance at all either).

Your statement is also a reason some feel giving Walker the max was a
mistake.  He doesn't/hasn't attracted other players to the team as you
pointed out Shaq (and Kobe) has.  (Though Pitino drove many away I believe)
But Garnett hasn't been worth the money either, considering drawing other
players as a yardstick. So it isn't an exact science and there is more to
drawing free agents then just that.

That said, I think Pierce and Walker combined will draw some players in the
coming years as they keep winning.  I think the team treated Strickland
fair, Shaq and Magic keep talking up Pierce, Walker has shown he will play
team ball.  All positive things as far a free agents go.  If we keep giving
away our draft picks we'll need free agents to improve.

<Jim