Gordon could be gone in a flash

[Shakes]

Yes, there have been reports that he has something against Gordon and/or really likes Deng. Who knows how much truth there is to it.

As far as 1999, wasn't that more that there were major conflicts between Krause and both Jackson and the players? Sure, he probably could have stepped in and thrown out Krause instead, but haven't people been upset with him over things like getting involved the Deng signing? I think another titled would have brought in more money than blowing the team up, so I'm not sure I really buy the idea that Jerry blew the team up to save cash.

 

[TheStig]

Shakes wrote:

I don't buy the whole idea that Reinsdorf just wants to make tons of money and doesn't care about winning. If you want to make tons of money, buying a sports team is a really stupid way to do it. Look at the figures, the return on investment for sports teams is pretty crap compared to where else you could invest the money. You buy a sports team because you want a sports team, not to get rich(er).

I think Reinsdorf wants to win, but he's also not willing to just throw money away to do it. You don't get to the position to be able to afford a sports team by being the type to flush money down the drain. He's not going to pay luxury tax just to win a few more games. He probably would to win a championship. The complication comes in when you ask where the line is drawn, and if paying the luxury tax may help win a championship down the line.

I'd like to keep Ben Gordon, but I also think paying above market for him would have been stupid. It doesn't really matter whether you think, or I think, or a sports writer thinks that Ben Gordon is a better player than Luol Deng or Kirk Hinrich. What matters is whether other teams are willing to pay him that much money. Paying more than the market dictates is stupid on two fronts, firstly you up your payroll for no good reason, and secondly you end up with a contract that the market has already shown no other team wants.

Unfortunately for Gordon's sake it seems his perceived value is less than his real value. The "short sixth man who doesn't play D" thing seems to have stuck. He's just going to have to deal with it and accept less money. Hopefully from Chicago, but I doubt we'll do it given the tax.

What are you talking about? The team was bought for 16 Million and is probably worth closer to 500 Million. The Bulls also operate the highest profit in the league and routinely net 30+million a year. JR has made a killing on his investment. The bulls are one of the few teams who could easily afford the LT today and still make a profit.

 

[Shakes]

I'm not denying the Bulls have been successful at making a profit. The Bulls have been far above the league average primarily because of Michael Jordon. When buying the team there's no way JR could have known he was buying what would turn out to be the most marketable sports star probably ever.

The fact he bought the team to begin with tells you he's not just interested in making money. People just interested in making money don't buy sports teams, because the average sports team isn't good at making money compared to other businesses. JR got lucky in that the Bulls, in addition to giving him whatever he wanted out of owning a sports team, has also made lots him money. But he wouldn't have gone into the venture expecting this result.

I agree the Bulls can afford the luxury tax. But being able to afford something doesn't mean you should do it. I can afford a new car, but my old one still works, so it doesn't make sense for me to buy one. JR apparently doesn't want to keep BG at his asking price, so it makes no sense for him to pay the LT to keep him. I think he's wrong on not wanting BG, but it's his team, and the ability to choose who is on it is one of the reasons people buy sports teams.

 

[TheStig]

Your arguement doesn't make sense. Major market sport teams do make money and always go up in value. Its the small market teams that you aren't sure will make money. Chicago, LA(minus the clippers they aren't really a nba team), NY teams are making a lot. And we pay the lowest payroll and coaching out of the big markets. MJ certainly built the brand name but I have no doubt in my mind that even without MJ the teams value would go up at least 10x. His operating income might not be as high (tickets, jerseys, tv) but the team would be at least 200 MIll because of the market. That he did know. JR is a very shrewd investor. JR has probably made the most money off his team then any other owner in the league. Its not like you or me buying a new car its like seeing donald trump in a rusty civic. JR does the bare minimum when he has the max to work with. JR should be more than happy to go into the LT to acquire star players. Even though we got Rose, we should have been able to beat the LA deal and gotten gasol for peanuts. All we would have had to do was a s&t with PJ Brown and eaten an extra 10 mill per year for a star big man.