In Reply to: Tyran Stokes, Brandon McCoy, Christian Collins, Jason Crowe posted by LakerFanForLebronNotKobe on June 02, 2025 at 07:27:11
a situation such as this before: financial demands skyrocketed and the whole landscape pivoting to a purely sports model but one lacking in governance and limitations. (See Wanna's post on the subject) With prices for players increasing at a rate of nearly a third more every year, the question is 'Does it make any sense for your program to spend most of your money on a single player - one out of five to start and up to 9 or 10 to contribute?'
We will have multiple needs going forward - in the current era, with what amounts to universal free agency without restrictions other than four years of eligibility (also being tested in courts), you are going to need at least a partial rebuild every single year. Not to mention the prevalence of circus situations in terms of players' - and even more their "posses'" expectations of stardom and the ability to dictate their playing time and style and stardom status which doesn't mesh well with our no-nonsense HC's expectations and coaching style and strengths.
In terms of elite talents, the question everyone involved has to ask is, even if you'd love to get to coach that kid for a year or two with his style, can our program (whoever you are, whichever program you're talking about) actually afford him and how would he fit into our program?
Note that if you land one of those young men, you are going to lose others including some already on your team. If you sign a Donovan Dent, a senior you are clearly signing to run your offense and play as many minutes as he's capable of playing, you are going to see Dylan Andrews and Seb Mack depart - at the very least.
It's an era in which accounting and psychology are ascendant and you can't expect to get what you want, especially when so many terrific talents have come along at the exact same time in the exact same place.