Today in The Works: What to make of Stephon Marbury's China odyssey; some proposed Hall of Famer fashion lines; and previewing the third season of "Merlin".
But first, what's ahead for Wilson Chandler and the Knicks?.
Wilson Chandler Can't Lose
Yesterday, Knicks president Donnie Walsh proclaimed loudly for all the media to hear that Wilson Chandler was here to stay: "Wilson's a restricted free agent and I'm going to sign him. He's a helluva player." It's curious that Walsh added the "restricted" detail, since it either amounts to boasting (whatever it takes, they'll match) or stands as a kind of caveat. As in, "He's a restricted free agent, so don't get too excited about what I'm about to say".
Restricted free agency is one of basketball's great mysteries, along with frozen pizza and DeJuan Blair's knees. In a perfect, crystal-clear world, it works as part of the following model: A team locks up its essential young players the summer before they're eligible for any kind of anything. A year later -- where Chandler is headed -- they make a decision on guys who either weren't done growing yet, or they may only be willing to pay a certain price for. The only players who get past that either stink or are Ben Gordon, whose contributions to basketball will never be forgotten.
Chandler wasn't offered an extension last summer; now, headed into restricted free agency, he's considered indispensable by Walsh. That's the language you use for someone now viewed as a big part of the Knicks going forward, a player the team simply can't live without out and takes into account when mapping out future plans.
Not someone you are willing to keep if the price is right (like Jeff Green on the Thunder). Chandler will be matched. Walsh basically just played his hand, but it feels so good, because -- as is always the case with the Knicks -- he had to speak up while the news cycle was ripe.
It's unclear who restricted free agency -- it has to help someone to restrict it -- works for. It's supposed to give an advantage to teams, since even if it brings in other parties in a way that extension negotiations don't, it's still better than the all-out freedom of the unrestricted variety. Then again, In the negotiations that can precede this period, players feel wanted and can have a number in mind, as opposing to being at the mercy of the market; if no one else makes an offer, they're stuck with the team's best bid. In a way, all the leverage is going Chandler's way if Walsh is even remotely telling the truth. Then again, maybe now no one makes a decent offer, since they know Walsh will just match, which means it would be a waste of their time -- unless the point is just to mess with the Knicks. In theory, though, Walsh isn't going to be able to get a bargain or name his price with Chandler. Not after he made it clear that Chandler's availability is an accident of time, not a spatial consideration.
Everything comes down to time and space, but especially the run-up to restricted free agency. Space is the hierarchy of a team; again, if a player developed without a hitch, and a team understood its destiny, then it would be possible to tell who mattered and how much they mattered. The future All-Stars, or young starters who make key contributions every game, get locked up before anyone gets a shot at them in a good old-fashioned negotiation. Everyone else, well, you decide if you can afford them or really need them later on. Except sometimes, time plays a part, as with Chandler. Simply put, Wilson Chandler wasn't this good a year ago, and as recently as a month ago seemed like someone the Knicks would part with to get Carmelo Anthony. Things change over time, in ways you simply can't anticipate.
So now, heading into this summer, the Knicks will match any offer for Chandler, unless another team -- as wowed by him as Walsh is -- really breaks the bank. Basically, Chandler goes into restricted free agency (unless he slumps big time) with his market value sky-high, higher than it ever would have been if New York had deigned to extend him then. Oops. Then again, these have been some weird years recently for RFA. Most famously, Josh Smith ended up with an unremarkable deal when there just wasn't money or need there to force a bidding war. Then, you had Rajon Rondo accepting a contract extension that now seems like a bargain and a half, all because he was afraid of going the way of Josh Smith. Even though he makes a little less than Smith.
Wilson Chandler, though, has had the opposite experience. He didn't seem that important, or that good, when it would have been time to talk extension, not even to the point where a Rondo-style low-ball offer would have been worth it. By waiting to show his true colors, or for the team to realize they needed him, he has turned into a desirable commodity, one who isn't facing the same economic circumstances (or, let's be honest, supposed red flags) as Smith. So congrats, Wilson Chandler. You have showed that beating the system is proof that it works. Unless, of course, Walsh is an evil genius who has started loudly making his point exactly so no one else even bothers. Then, all this praise might be the worst thing that's ever happened to Chandler. (BS)
Marbury In China
Stephon Marbury's reputation in America is about as low as possible right now.
Plying his trade in China, Marbury is a pariah in his homeland, commonly thought of as a weirdo who ate vaseline, embraced God, and then fell of the face of the pop culture landscape. Above all, he's a cautionary tale about the perils of basketball selfishness and gluttony.
But what if this sojourn to China is a conscious decision for the future rather than the last resort of an athlete on his last legs?
As Ben Sin found out while covering Marbury in China for NYMag.com, there might be a method to Starbury's madness:
Many see Marbury's China stint as a result of karma for a selfish athlete who burned one too many bridges with NBA ballclubs. It's easy to assume he's in basketball purgatory: playing for a salary that, by NBA standards, is a mere pittance (reportedly $25,000 a month) and living a detached existence, speaking through translators and eating hotel food on a daily basis. But Marbury argues that his journey east is less a last resort than a choice. [...]
He says he simply wanted to go to China because he sees playing there as a smarter financial decision. "Why go someplace if it's not going to put you in a situation where you can continue to grow?" he says. "There's definitely going to be a lockout in the NBA after this season. The owners do not want to pay older players, and the players will cave, because they're only focused on now. The owners, they're looking at this long term, like a fifteen-year business investment."
There's a common misconception that foreign fans parrot North American fans when choosing favorites, but that's not entirely the case; for proof, see their near-universal love for Kobe Bryant even as he remains quite divisive among fans here. To Chinese basketball fans, Marbury's bizarre behavior is less of a concern, especially now that he's embraced the country and, in his own special way, become an important figure in the development of the CBA.
Marbury hasn't been entirely successful so far. With Steve & Barry's folded in America, he is still trying to find a distributor for his cheap Marbury basketball shoes in China's $6 billion sneaker market. If Marbury can gain some traction in a new market, then his time in China will have been worth it. He will have made himself a successful long-term business by taking advantage of a promising emerging market, which incidentally is the kind of move that also gains one a reputation as a businessman and opens up more opportunities down the road.
This is not to say that Marbury will be entirely successful and find himself on the cover of Forbes in ten years. But it is becoming clearer that he is not just some whackadoodle deviant with a penchant for broadcasting his odder tendencies to a captive audience on uStream. Instead, Marbury has some sort of plan for his future that makes him, if not some kind of genius, then at least an athlete who thinks more than five minutes ahead of time. His methods might not be normal, but the general approach is a positive example for other athletes as they inch towards retirement.
When Marbury embraced most bizarre habits two summers ago, many predicted he'd end life in an institution. But it's becoming more obvious by the day that those actions were a performance in their own right, no matter how ill-advised they were. His choices haven't always been great, but there is clearly a larger plan here. That doesn't necessarily validate anything the man does, but it casts his actions in a more charitable light. Marbury can no longer be dismissed as a mental case -- he deserves our reasoned attention like any other aging basketball player attempting to keep himself relevant after his playing days are over. (EF)
Hall Of Fame Fashion
A special guest shot from our style correspondent, AA, of the world famous Tumblr Serious Ladies.
The heritage line craze has hit full swing for 2011, and with Hakeem Olajuwon launching his own collection, NBA legends are eager to get in on the action. Said one anonymous clothing executive, "It's easy to sell white guys on a heritage line, but urban customers want a different message. Old basketball players dress well and show up on time."
Bill Russell for REI: Bill Russell, a Seattle resident, loves golf and camping and is generally nuts about the outdoors. He's been an REI Coop member since 1983, and was eager to collaborate on a capsule line for the no-nonsense outdoor company. Cornerstone pieces include longjohns with leather elbow patches, waterproof ankle boots, and a headlamp that benefits noble international causes.
"The Glide" for Justin: Clyde Drexler is the man to know during Houston Rodeo -- he's invited to every event, backstage at every rodeo concert, and his BBQ restaurant does really swift catering business during the busy springtime rodeo season. Last year, the enterprising new creative director of the boot and western wear powerhouse approached Drexler to collaborate on a boots and hats line. Details include tooled and pebbled leather, sharp metal fixtures on decorative holsters, and a line of lassos that will be sure to move fast.
Bill Bradley for Brooks Brothers: An icon of preppy style, Bill Bradley has had a credit account at Brooks since 1965. For his initial capsule line "Territorial Picks," Bradley combed through the Brooks archives for his favorite corduroy blazers, shetland sweaters, turtlenecks, and twill trousers of his ball years. Fun fact: Bradley was late to the third game of the 1973 playoffs because he left his Princeton scarf behind at a suit fitting and had to retrieve it!
Roy Tarpley for ProWings: In 1989, the still-promising Tarpley signed an endorsement deal with ProWings, a budget sneaker line sold at Payless Shoes. However, due to his increasingly erratic behavior, ProWings fired him as their spokesman soon after. Those close to Tarpley saw the loss of the endorsement as a particularly tragic development, as Tarpley had received a case of ProWings at the signing of the contract and had since become an evangelist for the brand, swearing by their comfort and durability. Tarpley can be seen wearing an all-black pair to a 1991 court date. In 2009, after running into a Payless executive at a men's prayer group in Grand Prairie, Texas, clean and sober Tarpley was re-signed as a spokesman for the brand's re-launch. Manufacturing and legal constraints have held up the line's premiere, but those inside the deal promise we'll see something in 2011.
Dennis Rodman for Betsey Johnson: Dennis Rodman and Betsey Johnson met at a Kundalini Yoga retreat in Bali, and have been inseparable buds since. Johnson's made a mint lately licensing her brand of tacky-wacky for department stores, and is eager to repackage it with Rodman for more fun and profit. Those who've seen the sketches can't stop talking about the male jeggings and skull bolo ties.
It's Merlin Time!
Bethlehem Shoals: The one thing the Works loves more than Monta Ellis is "Merlin," the BBC show that aired briefly on NBC, only to find a home on SyFy. Despite being on a channel that's misspelled and embarrassing to type and catering mainly to pre-teens and people who like wizards, "Merlin" is a quality program. The third season begins tonight and, as part of the time-honored tradition of unnecessarily mixing up pop culture and sports, we have decided to conduct our own "Merlin" draft. Or at least discuss what it would be like to do so.
Eric Freeman: So, who is the point guard? My first choice would be Arthur, who is growing into his role as a leader, kind of like John Wall or Rajon Rondo. Plus he's dreamy.
BS: Arthur is totally like one of those college players who everyone falls in love with but then it turns out they're limited as pros. Obviously, you take the dragon, including the voice of John Hurt. It's a freaking dragon. I just don't see what's so hard about that. He's like DeMarcus Cousins, but a million years older, and with even more size and yes, wingspan, and an even worse attitude.
EF: Wait, are we drafting or choosing positions? Obviously the dragon is the first choice in the draft!
BS: Oh, I thought we were doing a draft. But you're right, it's pointless, the dragon is tops, and then anyone who knows magic. That's why the Uther is so against magic -- it makes games unfair. So yeah, we should focus on positions. Doesn't the point guard have to be someone who, um, knows magic? Get it? Isn't the moral of the show that Merlin should be the point guard?
EF: If it's a draft, the Dragon is first also because there was a period when he was in chains, just like college. As for the point guard, Merlin is growing into his role as a leader, too, but he eventually becomes an adviser to King Arthur more than anything. Can the point guard be an adviser rather than the face of the kingdom/franchise? I agree that the PG must have magic, though. So maybe it is Merlin, except he's not necessarily a dominant point. Or they play one of those combo backcourts where the guards share roles.
BS: We also don't know anyone's size. Arthur looks more like a small forward to me. But the dragon is bigger than anyone. And the giant rats are pretty big, too. Merlin could be like Rajon Rondo -- infinitely crafty and confusing, and somehow both the more important player on the team and one who sees himself as having a very clear role. That's in line with his awesome destiny. Arthur would be like if Carmelo Anthony played with Chris Paul. He wouldn't realize that Paul was capable of making him even better. There could be some major chemistry issues between Arthur and Lancelot, who will be back this season. Aren't they both after Guenivere? Isn't Merlin, too? I am so confused. It's like Toni Braxton all over again. PS Lest you think I'm being sexist, Morgana is totally in my starting five.
EF: I am pretty sure that Merlin is after Morgana and Arthur is firmly for Guen. Speaking of Morgana, she is clearly the X-factor in the group. She doesn't even really understand her own capacity for magic yet, like one of those tweener swingmen who comes into the league with little knowledge of the game other than that he can jump really high. Given the Dragon's dominance, I think you can put her at the four and let her find her way.
BS: She is a lot more attractive than Thaddeus Young, but I see what you're saying. It's also strange that she is so raw, yet bound by such a strong sense of honor ... one that will ultimately drive her to evil! How many players come into the league with an unfocused game but a really good sense of how to play with others? Maybe Serge Ibaka makes more sense. Incidentally, can we trade Anthony Randolph from the NBA to "Merlin"? It might be his truest calling.
EF: Especially because "Merlin" allows black people to hold jobs in medieval England. Is there a place for King Uther on this team? Or is he the malcontent veteran with a huge expiring contract?
BS: I just assumed he was the coach. Well, he's one of those blowhard coaches, but Gaius is the genius assistant behind the whole thing. Or wait, that sounds an awful lot like Merlin and Arthur. Actually, Merlin is supposed to be great in his own right, even if he will only ever have a supporting role in the kingdom. That's his part in human history, but when it comes to dragon and magic and stuff, it goes deeper and he is transcendent or something. Gaius is a lot more like Eddie Jordan or John Kuester. You can't really see him mattering much on his own. Sidebar: Who in the NBA, other than Tim Duncan, might watch Merlin?
EF: Gaius is the brains of the operation. He has the best scouting reports on all the opposing monsters, even if those scouting reports are just basic drawings in books. In terms of NBA fans of the show, we are looking for a fan of teen romance who isn't ashamed of looking like a dork. Al-Farouq Aminu wears funny glasses, but I don't think he counts. Dwight Howard? He sings for kids.
BS: Oh, good call on the scouting reports. So, you haven't told me: what do you want to do with the giant rats?
EF: The giant rats seem fearsome in theory but I think they might be limited. Remember, they're blind and have giant teeth that get in the way of their limbs. I see them as Mahorn-like enforcers and little more.
BS: Well, maybe there will be a basketball scene this season and we'll learn the answer to all these questions. See you then!
***
The Works is written by Bethlehem Shoals (@freedarko) and Eric Freeman (@freemaneric), who also contributes regularly to Ball Don't Lie. Their Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History is now available.
No comments:
Post a Comment