Amidst the flurry of perspectives, emotions, and retorts regarding last night’s proceedings, one element was understandably ignored. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are about somehow maneuver the NBA even more comfortably into the palm of their collective hands, and everything else is just foreplay.
Except LeBron James’ decision — while obviously affecting just about every NBA team in myriad ways, as well as Clevelanders, businesses, consumers, fans of every ilk, and various household pets — does have one implication that has yet to be accounted for: He has just made Pat Riley one of the most important figures in USA Basketball.
Players who represent their country in international competition face an ongoing struggle with ownership and management types. It rarely serves the NBA team in any way for them to risk their multi-million dollar investment with little possible gain, and the most disastrous possibilities far outweigh any potentially positive ones. It’s never been a matter of principle, just of responsibility; if Manu Ginobili injures himself (as he has before) playing for Argentina, who is going to compensate the Spurs for their lost season? There is simply no entity in existence that can make things right for San Antonio in such a scenario, which is exactly why owners often hate to see their golden calves put to work elsewhere.
Now, while owners, managers, and coaches can stand in direct opposition to their players’ participation, they can’t exactly stand in the way. If Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gasol wants to play in the Olympics or the FIBA World Championships or wherever, it’s their right. That doesn’t mean team reps can’t try to persuade the hell out of them, and it doesn’t mean that such methods don’t work. Manu Ginobili is skipping out on the Argentine national team, in part because of his new extension with the Spurs. A number of the typical participants are sitting out due to injury, recovery, or rehab. A few more are staying home after signing with a new team. These are all situations in which players are dissuaded from playing even when they may be physically able to, and that’s exactly the kind of sway Pat Riley now has over three of the most influential players on Team USA.
If Riles was able to convince Wade, James, and Bosh to all sign with the Heat, where they could be surrounded by Mike Miller, second rounders, and vet minimum guys, wouldn’t he have some sway over their futures playing in international competitions? It’s a non-issue for this summer, as all three have already voiced their preference to get settled in after free agency, but if the 2011 FIBA Tournament of the Americas is in play? Or even the 2012 Olympics? Riley could have some serious influence on whether or not three key cogs in the Team USA machine even show up for work. I’m not saying that Riley would or should (okay, he probably should if he’s looking out for his team’s best interests) try to dissuade LeBron, Dwyane, and Chris from participating, just that he could. Maybe. He could try, and Riles trying seems to have some pretty impressive results.
That endgame wouldn’t quite signal the end of Team USA as we know it, but it would set the program back a bit. Part of the allure for players is being able to play alongside the league’s elite, but if those three are too good for the program, Carmelo Anthony would surely follow. Then maybe Dwight Howard, or Chris Paul, or Deron Williams. Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant would be the closest thing Team USA would have to locked-in superstars, but I wouldn’t even write their names in sharpie.
At this point, everything regarding the Miami Heat is about potential. With the regular season still a few months away, all we have is guesswork. Yet it’s important to know who holds the power and, perhaps more importantly, who knows how to wield it. LeBron James clearly has an incredible command over the national consciousness, as he demonstrated on the airwaves last night. But Pat Riley, the architect who defied gravity in somehow putting this team together, now has an absolutely ridiculous amount of influence. Riles may not sow the wind, but he’ll still have the power that comes with operating the sails.
