L.A. Lakers: The Rich Keep on Getting Richer

by Sean Heffernan 

When Danny Ainge's masterpiece trade for Kevin Garnett and Jesus Biggelsworth (Ray Allen) turned the Boston Celtics from perennial loser to NBA Champion in a single year a new standard was set for NBA GM's to reach for the miracle move. ... This offseason has seen Shaq join Lebron in Cleveland, Vince Carter bolster the Orlando Magic's offense, former All Star Richard Jefferson head south to San Antonio,and Rasheed Wallace become Ainge's fourth amigo in Boston. Teams are feeling the pressure that they must wheel and deal if they want to have any chance at all to compete with the rest of the league.

One of the great things about American sports is the possibility that before each season you never never know if this year will be your team's year. Before last season, Arizona Cardinals fans certainly weren't poised for a Super Bowl run, but it happened. The Chicago White Sox surprised everyone when they won the World Series in 2005 without a single bonafide star player. The improbable in sports is what makes us watch.
 
Take for example European soccer. Most of the leagues in Europe are dominated by a few mega-rich teams year in and year out because they don't abide by a salary cap of any kind. In the English Premier League for example the same four teams (Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal) finish in the top four almost every year. The rest of the clubs don't stand a chance unless they run into a couple hundred million dollars somewhere. Perhaps the same standard can't be held to European football because unlike American sports there are soccer leagues in every country in the world, but still something is lost in the predictability of it all.

 The NBA's offseason is far from over with big names like Carlos Boozer and Allen Iverson likely still to be on the move before all is said and done. In only a few months the gap between the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs, Cavs, Magic and the rest of league has grown significantly. The level of play when these teams collide next year in the playoffs might be off the charts, but is this the best thing for the NBA? Who's going to want to watch the Memphis Grizzlies play the Indiana Pacers next year?

 The NBA did lower their salary cap to cope with the suffering economic market, but they can't stop teams from pooling the league's best talent together. This trend is only gaining steam with the recent trades around the league. The rise of the NBA superteams could reach a fever pitch with all the superstar free agents available in 2010. When will it end? Is it the best thing for basketball? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.