League sources have already identified the Lakers, Bulls, and Nets as potential suitors that are likely to have the requisite spending power to present an offer sheet that causes angst in the Rocky Mountains. The Stein Line has learned, in fact, that both the Lakers and Bulls registered trade interest in Watson leading up to the in-season deadline for deals on Feb. 5.
I think it probably goes more to the larger cap puzzle that we're trying to build and remain competitive within the marketplace. In the end, there's only so many dollars to go around.
Stevens didn't stop when he got below the second apron. He took Boston out of the luxury tax altogether, while keeping a competitive enough lineup for Joe Mazzulla to flex his own muscles as a great young coach.
The owners of Major League Baseball's 30 teams, who made their wealth through the workings of free enterprise capitalism, want to limit what players can be paid. This apparent political and philosophical irony will most likely lead to a shutdown of baseball at the end of this season.
The problem has never been economic. We could sign a player for 80 million and amortize him with a six-year contract. The problem was the salary space, once it is solved, Barça can sign anyone, but with consistency. We have to maintain the balance we have achieved, salary and sporting.