Are The Raptors Poised To Fail In The 2011 Draft?

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Employee wrote:

How is Chris Bosh gonna pay for his home if there's a lockout??!!

Naw I wouldn't say most, but a hell of a lot of players would have a hard time going a year without a pay cheque.

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id say if bosh is broke he should fire his accountant... same goes for anyone making 15mill per.... everyone keeps talking like these guys have never got paid before.... guys like KG have been getting 20+mill for the last number of years & your going to tell me that he couldnt take a year off & still have boat loads of money.... people need to stop thinking that because the NBAPA only has enough to pay 1 cheque during a lockout that these guys dont have money!!! alot of these guys are stinking rich...the rest are just rich!

I would agree that there a good number of players are very financially well off. But the majority of the players in the league are not top earners, but rather either young guys who are just cutting their professional teeth, or career role players who have never earned a huge contract in their career.

Because it is a union, all of the players voices count in discussions.

As for the draft, I think it is going to be a stronger year then most experts are predicting. I like the example that has been given of the 1998 draft that precedeed the lockout. That helps set a good precedent. But the majority of these top talent players will probably still leave college this year. Staying in means building a stronger talent pool for 2012, which also means dropping spots on the draft board.

Whether they come out now or in 2012, they will still sign a contract under the new CBA. This most likely means that a top 5 pick this year will earn as much as a top 5 pick next year...so why risk dropping if you are a top 10 or 15 talent? I think it is with the middle talent that we will see the biggest drop off this year. Stick around, continue to develop, and hope to move up in the boards for 2012.

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Shantz wrote:

I would agree that there a good number of players are very financially well off. But the majority of the players in the league are not top earners, but rather either young guys who are just cutting their professional teeth, or career role players who have never earned a huge contract in their career.

Because it is a union, all of the players voices count in discussions.

As for the draft, I think it is going to be a stronger year then most experts are predicting. I like the example that has been given of the 1998 draft that precedeed the lockout. That helps set a good precedent. But the majority of these top talent players will probably still leave college this year. Staying in means building a stronger talent pool for 2012, which also means dropping spots on the draft board.

Whether they come out now or in 2012, they will still sign a contract under the new CBA. This most likely means that a top 5 pick this year will earn as much as a top 5 pick next year...so why risk dropping if you are a top 10 or 15 talent? I think it is with the middle talent that we will see the biggest drop off this year. Stick around, continue to develop, and hope to move up in the boards for 2012.

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I said it in another thread... the only ones who will trully suffer are rookies on rookie contracts... even a guy earning a MLE contract is still rich... some veteran min. guys will suffer but most of those guys have had there huge paydays already soo they should have somthing in the bank.

the only guys making 5mill & up who will suffer are dumb..& theyd prob be just as broke if they made 20mill a year..but thats there problem not a lockouts or contract size..i dont feel for them at all...

the GMs always cry about money but they always throw it around like its food stamps... & a hard cap wont change that..never did for NHL... there still forking out boat loads of cash for players...

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DoNDaDDa wrote:

id say if bosh is broke he should fire his accountant... same goes for anyone making 15mill per.... everyone keeps talking like these guys have never got paid before.... guys like KG have been getting 20+mill for the last number of years & your going to tell me that he couldnt take a year off & still have boat loads of money.... people need to stop thinking that because the NBAPA only has enough to pay 1 cheque during a lockout that these guys dont have money!!! alot of these guys are stinking rich...the rest are just rich!

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One would think, but a large percentage of these guys do not manage their money anywhere near where they could or should, and often are spending on their entourage etc. without even realizing what they are spending. Antoine Walker is bankrupt and playing inthe D League, Manute Bol died in debt (big shame and a lot to do with what he doled out in charities and support), Iverson is rumoured to be in trouble with money. DWade credits the business side he learned from Shaq, otherwise he would be in trouble, and a huge example is Eddie Curry. The man is making 8 figures, and is already unable to keep up with his 'payments'. Just wait until next year when he will be lucky (very) to get vet's minimum. There are many, many more examples in every league. Just because someone makes boatloads of money doesn't by any means indicate they have money. Hell even Trump went bankrupt, he just has the know-how to make it back. It's not the same when your bag comes from playing a sport - something that is short lived on the upper scale of the money spectrum.

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DoNDaDDa wrote:

I said it in another thread... the only ones who will trully suffer are rookies on rookie contracts... even a guy earning a MLE contract is still rich... some veteran min. guys will suffer but most of those guys have had there huge paydays already soo they should have somthing in the bank.

the only guys making 5mill & up who will suffer are dumb..& theyd prob be just as broke if they made 20mill a year..but thats there problem not a lockouts or contract size..i dont feel for them at all...

the GMs always cry about money but they always throw it around like its food stamps... & a hard cap wont change that..never did for NHL... there still forking out boat loads of cash for players...

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Should is the operative word. Does not mean 'does'. It is a sad state, but not a unique one. I read a few months ago that a large percentage (can't remember but definitely well into double digits so 40% or something) of lottery winners end up bankrupt. They just do not see the end to the gravy train and do not plan with their money.

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Maleko wrote:

Should is the operative word. Does not mean 'does'. It is a sad state, but not a unique one. I read a few months ago that a large percentage (can't remember but definitely well into double digits so 40% or something) of lottery winners end up bankrupt. They just do not see the end to the gravy train and do not plan with their money.

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like i said in myy previous post... i dont feel sorry for those guys at all... i doubt the NBAPA cares either.. think of it this way.. would a labour union not go on strike just because a few of its employees cant save there money??? of course they would still strike.....a union is about all its members not just a select few...there will be alo more players who cant save in the future and if the league gets its wish of a hard cap then these guys will loose more in the long term... 40% roll backs on salary, new lowered max contracts... no guaranteed contracts...higher age limit for turning pro... all these things = a huge loss for players in the long term...more so then sitting out a season

as a fan i dont want a lockout & id love to see the raps win a title...but if i was a union rep. or player id def. not want the hard cap.

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Employee wrote:

How is Chris Bosh gonna pay for his home if there's a lockout??!!

Naw I wouldn't say most, but a hell of a lot of players would have a hard time going a year without a pay cheque.

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He'll pay for it with his "Got Milk" ads!!! haha

What did you mean by the Raptors stockpiled a bunch of picks? Don't we just have the two first rounders?

Bosh better have he saved some of his Raptor money. He may have to cut All-Star advertisement costs this year. Maybe he could switch from video adds to handing out flier on road games? ;)

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DoNDaDDa wrote:

id say if bosh is broke he should fire his accountant... same goes for anyone making 15mill per.... everyone keeps talking like these guys have never got paid before.... guys like KG have been getting 20+mill for the last number of years & your going to tell me that he couldnt take a year off & still have boat loads of money.... people need to stop thinking that because the NBAPA only has enough to pay 1 cheque during a lockout that these guys dont have money!!! alot of these guys are stinking rich...the rest are just rich!

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I was joking (sorta). It really is true though, most of these players come from a really poor background and saving money isn't their strongpoint. not everyone is making 17 mil a year. Eddy Curry gets advances on his cheque all the time (and he get like 14 mil a year). A lot of these players got their 15 man entourage and family (and extended family) they're looking after.

A lot of owners can do a lockout cause they're losing money anyway so it ain't a big a deal.

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albertan_10 wrote:

He'll pay for it with his "Got Milk" ads!!! haha

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bosh would def whore it up during a lockout LOL hed prob even make another docu.movie...do some fruity flakes adds..a duet with elton john...most of all hed have enough time for his true passion "stroking his own ego" LOL

A tear is forming in my eye, thinking of all the poor NBA players about to live in poverty. Maybe we can all band together and start a soup kitchen for them. Maybe Elton John and Prince can make a song together with proceeds going to the players association to help put food in their empty stomachs. Will the current Raptor players become homeless men living in shelters in Toronto or will they have enough money to travel back to their hometowns? Why doesn't Jesus care?

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DoNDaDDa wrote:

like i said in myy previous post... i dont feel sorry for those guys at all... i doubt the NBAPA cares either.. think of it this way.. would a labour union not go on strike just because a few of its employees cant save there money??? of course they would still strike.....a union is about all its members not just a select few...there will be alo more players who cant save in the future and if the league gets its wish of a hard cap then these guys will loose more in the long term... 40% roll backs on salary, new lowered max contracts... no guaranteed contracts...higher age limit for turning pro... all these things = a huge loss for players in the long term...more so then sitting out a season

as a fan i dont want a lockout & id love to see the raps win a title...but if i was a union rep. or player id def. not want the hard cap.

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Oh I'm with ya 100%. Don't feel sorry at all for the idiots, and for that matter the smart ones, since they have it. As a fan I don't think I want a hard cap either, but I am with the league on shorter max contracts and max money. Especially as a fan and you see fat cats sitting on their ass killing the team with sucking up $ under the cap, luxury tax or hard cap.

I went onto ESPN trade machine today just to see what people's cap position was like. I think everyone I looked at was over. If they do set a hard cap it can't be the 60 million that they have now. it'dhave to be 75 or 80 million. The big thing is keeping every team competitive. it's ridiculous how many are 30-50 million over the cap. that's not fair to the poorer teams in the smaller areas. I've said it befor eand i'll say it again. I would rather see 30 teams close to .500 than 8 teams with 50+ wins and 10 with 50+ losses with a bunch of first rounder exiters int he middle

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albertan_10 wrote:

I went onto ESPN trade machine today just to see what people's cap position was like. I think everyone I looked at was over. If they do set a hard cap it can't be the 60 million that they have now. it'dhave to be 75 or 80 million. The big thing is keeping every team competitive. it's ridiculous how many are 30-50 million over the cap. that's not fair to the poorer teams in the smaller areas. I've said it befor eand i'll say it again. I would rather see 30 teams close to .500 than 8 teams with 50+ wins and 10 with 50+ losses with a bunch of first rounder exiters int he middle

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Of course should some of them have a team to begin with? The watered down talent in the league doesn't help the product either.

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albertan_10 wrote:

I went onto ESPN trade machine today just to see what people's cap position was like. I think everyone I looked at was over. If they do set a hard cap it can't be the 60 million that they have now. it'dhave to be 75 or 80 million. The big thing is keeping every team competitive. it's ridiculous how many are 30-50 million over the cap. that's not fair to the poorer teams in the smaller areas. I've said it befor eand i'll say it again. I would rather see 30 teams close to .500 than 8 teams with 50+ wins and 10 with 50+ losses with a bunch of first rounder exiters int he middle

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One aspect of the new cba I would like to see instituted (with a hard cap on an amount which is a percentage of revenue) is some form of max within individual teams where a single player or eg. 3 players cannot make more than a fixed percentage of the team payroll. Example: 3 players on any team can make a max. of say 30% sliced any way. This will make the distribution of monies more equitable (within each team and league) as well as make it more difficult to have a situation that occurred in Miami where the best players just up and walk. They could only do so by his new team rearranging their roster. This should also balance out the competitiveness of teams.

And we should really stop using the term "union" with the players association. Union for me conjures up the dock workers and the hotel maids. These are millionaires fighting for a slice of the pie with some billionaires. And it really comes down to one fact...who's got the most cake (willing to take a good hit). I'd put my money on the owners.

Honestly, if the majority of us can live with under 20k a year, I think they should be able to do it unless they're off acting dumb with their money. My prof. use to tell me all the time - work smart, not hard.

Maybe they should take a page outta Jason Pitt's (The Game) book and turn into a penny pincher.

Edit: If they want a loan i'd give them it with 500% interest when they get back in the NBA

Hostile, it's not that simple. Are you taking into consideration mortgage payments? Alimony? Child support? Family support? A lot of these guys have expensive mansions, expensive cars & other toys, and they support their friends and families to some degree. To shut off their main stream is going to hurt a lot because they can't shut off their expenses and financial responsibilities that fast. It's not easy to walk away from a $12M mortgage if you're Chris Bosh for example. Me, personally, I can't live off $20K a year and I'm not rich and I don't live in excess but I do have to pay for my house, heat and light for that house and my truck, food, living supplies and all that is expensive in this day in age. $20K/yr would be easy to survive on but how many people live to just survive? We're not in the 3rd world here.

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Apollo wrote:

Example time. Ok, so the CBA runs out roughly around the end of June... Imagine for a moment if you will that this had happened this past summer. Xavier Henry took all summer to be signed to his rookie deal. If there was no CBA in place he would currently have no contract what so ever because after the CBA expires negotiations cannot take place.

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Nope. In the event you are drafted you are subject to the rules of the CBA since the draft itself falls under the CBA.

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Apollo wrote:

Hostile, it's not that simple. Are you taking into consideration mortgage payments? Alimony? Child support? Family support? A lot of these guys have expensive mansions, expensive cars & other toys, and they support their friends and families to some degree. To shut off their main stream is going to hurt a lot because they can't shut off their expenses and financial responsibilities that fast. It's not easy to walk away from a $12M mortgage if you're Chris Bosh for example. Me, personally, I can't live off $20K a year and I'm not rich and I don't live in excess but I do have to pay for my house, heat and light for that house and my truck, food, living supplies and all that is expensive in this day in age. $20K/yr would be easy to survive on but how many people live to just survive? We're not in the 3rd world here.

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Yes, but you are forgetting that it's way easier for them to get loans/deferrals because of their high earning potentials. As a potential lender, I wouldn't pass on a chance to make some easy, low-risk investments into these players.

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Apollo wrote:

$20K/yr would be easy to survive on but how many people live to just survive? We're not in the 3rd world here.

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So you're saying that they should be able to continue their life of luxury just because they're rich.

We might not be a 3rd world country, but there's still alot of people struggling to do exactly that. The poverty rate in Canada is ~5% and that equates to about 1.7 million people working to make ends meet in much harsher working conditions than these basketball players. We should be less worried about the rich getting richer and more worried about how to reduce social inquality.

Anyhow, if they are really in financial need there's always the option to play overseas. There is always a market for NBA players in the world--(good) basketball players are always in high demand.

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Employee wrote:

I was joking (sorta). It really is true though, most of these players come from a really poor background and saving money isn't their strongpoint.

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...so now's a good time to start learning.
Better now than to wait till they're retired.