Hoops Habit
Fansided

7 moments in recent NBA history in need of a documentary

By Daniel Lubofsky

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs puts pressure on Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs puts pressure on Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

4. Free agency of 2016

A new television deal pumped an excess amount of cash into the NBA’s salary cap heading into the summer of 2016. The results of which saw large sums of money end up in questionable hands, including:

  • Ian Mahinmi and Timofey Mozgov (4 years, $64 million)
  • Chandler Parsons (4 years, $94 million)
  • Joakim Noah and Luol Deng (4 years, $72 million)
  • Bismack Biyombo (4 years, $72 million)
  • Evan Turner (4 years, $70 million)

These deals don’t comprise even half of the jaw-dropping figures handed out during what can only be described as the best time to be a middling free agent. Many franchises still find themselves suffering from their misdeeds in some form or another. It makes you consider their rationale, to begin with.

Of course, not every team was frivolous in their money management. The Golden State Warriors used cap space they wouldn’t have otherwise possessed to bring in Kevin Durant in a move that rattled the NBA not even LeBron’s decision did six years prior.

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The Miami Heat called Dwyane Wade’s bluff when a contract agreement couldn’t be reached. Wade stunned the masses who believed Miami was the only place he’d ever play by going home to join the Chicago Bulls.

One has to consider the NBPA’s rejection of smoothing in the largest salary cap jump in league history over multiple years as the cause for all this mayhem. In its presence, KD isn’t in Golden State and seemingly every franchise isn’t trying to pawn off a deal they willingly cuffed themselves to.

Then again, we wouldn’t have been treated to a daily dosage of free agent notables that charted a course for the NBA to finish out the decade. No matter how high the cap goes in the future, 2016 will forever remain a one-of-a-kind summer of spending.