Cubs didn't win because of a salary cap tho, that's not even the point.
I'll use OKC. They were beyond dumb (and scared) and flipped Harden early. Afraid to pay or lose him.
LA don't have that fear. We ain't small market. We would have paid Harden, and KD, Russ etc.
GS struck gold with Steph takin well below market. Built from that.
LA already did that with JC. Do it once more with any of these guys, there's your "extra room" to add parts you wouldn't expect to be able too. (Like GS affording Iggy cuz of Steph's extra space)
We'll go over the tax when it's necessary, just not while we're tanking. You know LA will pony up.
So you're banking on Randle/Nance/Black/etc. all taking below market value? We still won't have room to add a marquee FA due to those terrible deals to Mosgov and Deng.
OKC is a decent example, except they had a bonafide star from day 1 in KD and another one in Russ by his 3rd year. Where is that guy on the roster for us now?
Even GS had to make decisions on their young talent pretty early on with Steph vs Monta and D. Lee eventually being let go so Dray could flourish. There's just not enough room for everybody to play and develop.
It's also easier to preach patience when a team hasn't won anything in 100+ years than it is for the marquee franchise in the sport whose been in contention every decade of its existence.
I said any one of them, not all.
And I don't really consider Black as a key part of the core/future.
If we did let Randle go, slide in Nance. If you keep Randle, Nance can go, I'm fine either way. (Or keep both, if you want)
Exactly. GS let the older vet guys go, exactly.
Monta and Lee. Got beat up for another year, added Barnes. Used the Steph savings to land Iggy.
Russ by year 3, none of these guys have reached year 3 yet. (Randle really only 2 cuz injury)
It's the opposite my friend. Generations of fans DIED without the Cubs ever competing. Entire generations fam. Grandparents, parents, kids all born and dead without sniffing a title. It was never easy preaching patience to that fanbase. Never.
This fanbase has a title this decade for heaven's sakes.
It took from 91-2000 to reach another Finals, but they built up a young core and went from there. It'll happen again. People just gotta relax. Too much now now now now now in sports society. Christ, the Cavs barely won their first, the 73 win Warriors failed, winning a title is hard as ****, we got 16. We can afford to be patient.
Look at everyone mockin the Celtics. Making fun of them for not making a panic move. Their punishment? Adding the #1 pick to a top 4-5 team already.
Then adding another top 3 pick the following year. But the now now now now now brigade makes fun of them for not trading everything away for Jimmy Butler, or Paul George, neither of whom would guarantee them a title, ever.
Too many people believe action = gain.
Sometimes action is just action.
Stay the course. Have patience. But, I know I'm the minority and many of you won't listen and demand "results" however harmful those actions may be.