My final offseason thoughts: Sixers, Lebron & the NBA!

Now that the 2010 Big Free Agents have all been signed, here are my thoughts of what happened and why I believe the system is needs to be fixed:

The NBA was hurt by the Lebron circus that took place the last few weeks, that ended with him on national TV stating he is leaving his hometown team for greener pasters in Miami. First let me state that Lebron James hasn't ever won a Title in this league. This whole presentation was to make himself bigger than the entire league that employs him. Never have we seen such a unprofessional, arrogant move take place in sports, period! Does Lebron James understand the ramificiations of what took place? He has become the most hated sports figure overnight. Does he realize that fans in Ohio and even in Akron will not kiss his feet anylonger? Does he realize that great players meet challenges, not run away from them? Does he realize that Miami isn't his town and Wade is the player who brought home a titile for them? By not even giving his former team, which happens to be his home state, any notification where he was playing next year, just shows what is wrong with sports today.Lebron has been treated like a god, all around him since he played in high school. Never subject to any critism and accountable for his own actions. From not shaking hands after losing two seasons ago, from quitting this year in the playoffs, face the facts you aren't as good as you're people say you are. Mark my words, in 2-3 seasons he will pull the same stuff with his new team, when Wade gets all the credit! Last note about Free Agency, who made Chris Bosh into the next Karl Malone? When I here people state he is a top three big man in this league, I laugh!

The NBA system is just like our present day economy: not a even playing field, with a system in place, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorier. How do you allow such things to take place? Hinrik for a conditional 2nd round pick? You ask me this is a pure salary dump! Former players give sweetheart deals to their former teams-Lakers & Celtics. You going to tell me that trading the Gasol brothers was a fair deal, especially for a GM looking to retire? The other deal where Minnesota took a bag of balls for Kevin Garnett? Please! Do not tell me that the lottery has not been fixed in year's past as well. Ewing to the Knicks, Lebron to the Cavs? Maybe the ref who went to jail was speaking the truth when he stated to prolong plaffoff series.

How can you allow teams to use loopholes in your system to your advantage? Sign and trades that never bring even compensation back. Luxury Tax, big market teams have the revenue to handle additional costs, where other markets would need to make serious concessions to do so. When you sign a free agent, why no mandatory compensation? Why do you have to eat an entire contract, cap wise if the player doesn't work out? Why can't you have another team pick up a portion of the salary via trade? Why do you impose a maxium player salary, when every marginal player seeks that deal. Yes, some blame needs to go on the owners, but why have such a thing in place? Why have Bird rules in place, when teams use it for players outside of their current team?

The NBA System is absolutely broken. It needs to be fixed and fixed right away. Look at the NFL as a model, they have small market teams that contend every year. When you hamstring teams with many restrictions and fail to allow an even playing field, you have 4-5 teams who can realistically contend for a title. Baseball gets away with it, so I guess it is fine for the league to do the same.

I am just a very frustrated NBA Fan, voicing my opinions and how I believe the system in place is very flawed. Is it due to the Sixers making bad business decisions and being hamstrung in free agency, yes to a certain degree, but not for the rest of the teams. The NY Knicks in essence didn't try to put a good team together for two seasons, so they could find a easy way out and land other team's best players. Now that plan has failed and failed miserablly. Thus, when you fail to compete, why are you not just forfeiting your games, oh that thing about selling tickets, where you pay for a seat with a team hoping to lose and not compete.

Enough about the system, here are my final thoughts regarding the Sixers moving forward:

-Way too early to be concerned about Evan Turner. He is a player who hates losing and will do the necessary work to get better and prove he can play against the big dogs.

-The Sixers are headed into a tough offseason after this year. Many rookie contracts expire and they need to be very careful who they extend for the future.

-The team has too many young players and need some veterans to teach them how to be winners in this league. A veteran, experience Coach is a good start, but find some veteran players to mentor these young talents.

-The entire culture needs to be changed, losing and not playing hard is not accepted. Any player who doesn't give full effort belongs on the bench or off the team. No player is bigger than the team. Everyone needs to be accountable on and off the court.

-No more building through the draft, the trade market should be used to incorporate veterans who fit Doug Collins system. You cannot have three or four players who haven't developed seeking big long-term contracts, that make building a team impossible if they do not work out.

-Next season is all about changing the culture of their losing ways and for player evaluation. Use the season to figure out which players fit the best for the future of the franchise.