It's 2008-2009 and not much signs of NBA coverage

Hard to believe but it's been about a year since I wrote a post bemoaning the lack of NBA TV coverage in Ireland. At the time Irish NBA fans were resonated to watching dodgy links on the web while cursing the fact that NFL coverage here is at an all time high. During the NBA Finals NBA.com were generous in allowing us to watch live coverage of the Lakers-Celtics series while generously listing us as a developing nation along the likes of Zaire, Angola Vietnam etc. Imagine if Brian Cowen found that out

A year on and unfortunately for dedicated NBA fans it's much the same. Though NASN has made progress in picking up NBA Fastbreak a highlights show that will be shown three times a week according to it's NBA portal the very same highlights can be found on youtube so it's pointless really.

The very same week we learn that there is a version of League Pass in the UK but they haven't made it available to Irish viwers yet. For anybody reading this I urge viwers to email the address listed leaguepass@nba.com because it will probably be the only way Irish viewers will see their favourite team regulary. Luckily for Sky Digital viewers Five is now free to air on Sky but considering they only show one game a week I doubt that will fill the drought. Still it's better then nothing

So with these little signs of encouraging findings in mind lets hope that League pass is on the way. Because lets face it. No one wants to face the TV sceanrio that British and Irish NBA fans faced last year

Baron Contract scenarios

Ok so everyone by now knows Baron opted out. It's that simple. Yet contrary to popular opinion there are lots of different contract scenarios that Boom Dizzle can opt to choose. Only time will tell if he's made the right one or more importantly what one will he decide.

Long Term Deal I don't see the Warriors doing this funnily enough but the Warriors and Baron work out a 3-5 year deal and decide where's he an important piece of the Roster. Davis does this because he gets bigger paydays and can leave all the annoying contract year charades, like passing to your teammates rather than pulling up for the three. Or pretending to listen to your coach.

Sign and Trade: Could happen. The Warriors would find a taker for Baron under this approach and then execute a contract for more than that team could pay Baron. For their trouble, the Warriors would receive players / picks in return. It seems Davis would perfer this option and Given that there are likely going to be only 2 or 3 teams with more than $8 mil to spend on a big-ticket free agent, the sign-and-trade route looks likely if Baron’s days with the Warriors are done.

Wait Mullin knows patience is the virtue and he succeeded last season using this tactic with Pietrus and Barnes . As I said before the Clippers, Sixers and Grizzlies the only three teams that have a shot at signing Baron won't because of roster factors, Cap space etc. The Warriors would wait the entire offseason but unfortunately this does not always benefit the team and leaves Baron disgruntled where as we've seen before it destroys a team. Baron deciding either between a mid-level exception for another team or a slightly higher deal with the Warriors

He walks Mullin would have a lot of explaining to do should this happen. Ok the fans would know that with years of rebuilding you turn into a possible Portland Trailblazer unit but after 12 years of futility do you think the fans would accept that?. On the other hand Davis leaving with nothing in return creates a bumper load of cap space for a shot at a big free agent come the 2009-2010 season. As for next season the youngsters get all the playing time, the team wins 20-30 games and they get a high lottery pick something Mullin anticipates probably every year. In essence if you have the patience of a saint it's a good idea but if you have a fanbase that aside from one Playoff series has suffered through so much bad then it's a ridiculous idea. But it could happen

I think the sign and trade is the most likely route. In any trade you go for prospects, draft picks, and expiring contracts. By doing this the Warriors add another player to the rotation a pick in next year’s draft and enough cap fodder to preserve some of the space created by Baron’s departure for 09-10.

Just a few examples

Baron signed for $13 mil to Cleveland for Varejao, Snow (expiring deal) and a 2009 #1

or

Baron signed for $15 mil to Los Angeles for Odom (expiring deal), Farmar and a 2009 #1

or

Baron signed for $13 mil to New York for David Lee, Malik Rose (expiring deal), Nate Robinson and Renaldo Balkman


None of those trades get us anything aside from the LA one but they do clear the final chapter of the Davis era in the Bay Area. Davis’ second-half of the season swoon, the Phoenix game, and now the opt-out have left him in a position no team leader can afford to hold — that of the scapegoat. It's only a matter of time before Welcome back Davis night happens

Trade exception expires

With the last few hours remaining here before the Trade exception we got for Diogu is dead. Here's a little more on how it worked.

The $2.1 million trade exception the Warriors got in exchange for forward Ike Diogu expires Thursday.

Diogu was part of that eight-played trade with Indiana on Jan. 17, 2007, which landed the Warriors forwards Jackson and Al Harrington . But Diogu's part of the trade was officially a separate transaction, allowing the Warriors to get the exception.

$2. 1 million is awfully small but the consensus if in the unlikely event the Warriors decide to use it Leon Powe would be a solid choice. With the Celtic's success he hasn't had any opportunity to get any PT over there. He may be a bad shooter and his turnover ratio hurts the eyes but his two big strengths are our two weaknesses Rebounding and Free Throws although the latter has improved considerably. He may have been injury prone coming out of college but if he isn't getting any minutes in Beantown with that star studded lineup just what use is he to them. In the 11 hours the warriors have they should make a attempto to at least get East bay product Leon Powe.

Leon to the Bay!

Lack of NBA TV Coverage in Ireland

The one thing that has grated me living over as a NBA Fan in Ireland is the lack of any TV Coverage. Yes thats right no TV Coverage this year. Despite the worldwide appeal of the sport and the bunch of international players playing for their respective teams NBA TV coverage is at an all time low.

Commish please do something

So why is NBA Basketball the most poorly covered of all 4 North American Sports. It's hard to say. A product like the NFL has capitalised on it's large number of UK fans by not only showing the games, hosting a regular season game and setting up a well designed site where fans of the game in the UK are content to discuss the game. In contrast the only signifcant move the NBA has made is open up a London office and give Five ( A channel no Irish person has access to) the rights to show just one game every Tuesday leaving the Irish out of it. Yes you can watch the game on any P2P source but really thats not good enough.

Sky of course had the games last season for irish coverage showing ABC's games every Sunday and even though it was given less priority then the NFL I thought they did an ok job. They didn't have the opinionated presenter a la Nick Halling whick makes their NFL Coverage tick but at least Slam Dunk Monday which showed 4 consecutive NBA games Live and classic was a big hit. The playoff selection of games was extremely questionable when they decided to ignore LeBrons game against Detroit and put on the Spurs and the Jazz. Obviously these games were perhaps planned weeks before schedule but seeing an achievment of Lebrons magnitude would have been awesome to see. It was also unfortuante that a Speedway event overan meaning Game 3 of the Warriors-Jazz series was delayed but at least they showed it. Now suddenly because their NFL Coverage has been expanded with NFL Network programming, SNF and MNF acquired they have decided NBA is no longer their priority. A kick in the teeth.

Will Irish NBA fans ever see SKY's coverage again

Apart from Sky no other channel that can be accessed in Ireland has decided to come in and give the coverage us fans deserve. BBC screened coverage of Michael Jordans comeback game for the Wizards but that was just a novelty. ITV had the quirky highlights show NBA action but this was quickly cancelled in 1999. They also had a Preseason game over at the O2 Arena which ironically featured some excitement the Garnett Celtics against his former team the Timberwolves but sooner or later the novelty of having Preseason games abroad in Europe will wear out and sooner or later fans will demand the real thing just look at the Ticket demand for the NFL London game for proof. Yes the NBA opened up a London office but to contradict themselves by barely having any coverage is a disgrace.

One last thing to further prove my point. Compare the NFLUK site to the NBA UK site and you'll see my point about how neglectful they have been to the product. Apart from a nice blog by Mark Wood and occassional entries on Luo Dengs it lacks the layout and even the Forum that NFLUK has.

Update: Has progress actually been made. According to Mark Wood.

A few incoming mails of late about NBA television coverage in the UK (or rather the lack of it). Watch this space, or rather your TV screen, but my sources in the league tell me there are plans afoot to start streaming games via this website from December in a version of League Pass. In the meantime, the new weekly show, NBA 360, is now available on Five US

Payroll figures

According to GSOM the latest payroll figures don't make much pretty reading from a Golden State perspective. Like many fans it confirms the fact we're owned by a cheap owner who is unwilling to spend any sort of money to help an average company supported by diehards who for the last 12 years have been ranked in the top 10 NBA attendences. So what are the figures as of December 1st. Well here they are.

Dallas Mavericks Payroll: $95,604,543 Cap Room: $-39,974,543
New York Knicks Payroll: $95,394,773 Cap Room: $-39,764,773
Denver Nuggets Payroll: $83,816,899 Cap Room: $-28,186,899
Miami Heat Payroll: $75,015,603 Cap Room: $-19,385,603
Boston Celtics Payroll: $74,233,753 Cap Room: $-18,603,753
Philadelphia 76ers Payroll: $73,411,391 Cap Room: $-17,781,391
Portland Trail Blazers Payroll: $71,471,949 Cap Room: $-15,841,949
LA Lakers Payroll: $70,959,905 Cap Room: $-15,329,905
Phoenix Suns Payroll: $70,843,875 Cap Room: $-15,213,875
Washington Wizards Payroll: $67,757,751 Cap Room: $-12,127,751
Cleveland Cavaliers Payroll: $67,723,135 Cap Room: $-12,093,135
San Antonio Spurs Payroll: $67,493,962 Cap Room: $-11,863,962
New Jersey Nets Payroll: $67,469,420 Cap Room: $-11,839,420
(Tie-14) Houston Rockets Payroll: $67,178,388 Cap Room: $-11,548,388
(Tie-14) Indiana Pacers Payroll: $67,178,388 Cap Room: $-11,548,388
Toronto Raptors Payroll: $67,052,973 Cap Room: $-11,422,973
Detroit Pistons Payroll: $67,037,076 Cap Room: $-12,371,285
LA Clippers Payroll: $64,527,831 Cap Room: $-8,897,831
Minnesota Timberwolves Payroll: $64,413,259 Cap Room: $-8,783,259
Chicago Bulls Payroll: $64,153,975 Cap Room: $-8,523,975
Sacramento Kings Payroll: $63,693,604 Cap Room: $-8,063,604
Seattle SuperSonics Payroll: $63,521,101 Cap Room: $-7,891,101
Milwaukee Bucks Payroll: $63,648,469 Cap Room: $-8,018,469
New Orleans Hornets Payroll: $60,844,890 Cap Room: $-5,214,890
Utah Jazz Payroll: $60,065,044 Cap Room: $-4,435,044
Warriors Payroll: $58,586,885 Cap Room: $-2,956,885
Orlando Magic Payroll: $56,541,463 Cap Room: $-911,463
Memphis Grizzlies Payroll: $55,630,000 Cap Room: $0
Atlanta Hawks Payroll: $54,631,874 Cap Room: $1,098,126
Charlotte Bobcats Payroll: $52,875,736 Cap Room: $2,754,264

: There are only 4 teams on this list that have a cap below the debt range. Doesn't mean much as perhaps it means there not spending much on bringing in players.

: You either like or dislike Cuban for his antics as the owner of the Dallas Mavericks but you have to respect the product he's trying to create in Dallas. In 2000 when he took over Dallas was a town rapidly losing interest in it's Basketball franchise. Now that Cuban took over it's a tussel between the Mavs and the Cowboys for the main draw in town.

: What about those Knicks. They may be awful on the court although they did win last night, they have an awful owner in Joe Dolan and a clueless coach in Isiah Thomas but their payroll is the second highest in thw League. Oh well they have to do well at something.

: The Warriors and the Jazz appear to be two likeminded teams off the court despite completely contrasting styles off it. Both despite having the biggest increase in season Tickets upgrades are content with their product. Do the Jazz deserve a pass for this lassiez faire attitude.? I would think so as they are a small market team therefore not attracting big name Free Agents. It's different in Oakland who were close to getting Garnett last Summer and since then we know we have the marquee power to attract big name players.

: The Roaracle arena was brimming with noise from the playoffs last season especially in game 3 of the Utah series where ESPN were forced to put up a decibel noise counter. Fans brought into a product that had let them down for 12 straight years which is the beauty of sports you can be treated like dogs and still come back. Although this season the fans have been much quiter it's showing fustration at a business product thats refusing to move forward. I'll let GSOM sum up my points.

High ticket prices + higher concessions at the arena + the league's highest attendance + hungry, diehard fans regarded as the best in the league = a lower team payroll, no outright commitment to winning now (from the top, not the players and coaches who are giving their all night in and night out), and flexibility for a non-guaranteed bright future?I'm not a Mathematics PhD, but that just doesn't add up