It’s been a landscape-altering off-season so far in the NBA. From the infusion of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and the rest of one of the most exciting draft classes in years, to nearly a dozen big-name players up for grabs and a self-proclaimed King returning to his kingdom, the NBA will never be the same.
A similar thing happened in the world of popular music around 1964, when four Liverpudlians emerged from the caverns of Hamburg to bring their version of rock and roll to audiences around the world. At first, they mostly covered the early rock of America’s south—skiffle-inspired takes on the likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard—but soon enough found a voice of their own, and in the span of just six years produced the deepest and most celebrated catalogue of modern music in existence.
So, who better to mark one of the most influential off-seasons in the NBA than one of the most influential bands known to man? Here is a round up of the NBA’s wild summer, as explained by corresponding Beatles tracks:
I Saw Her Standing There
Key lyric: “So how could I dance with another, when I saw her standing there?”
NBA move: Toronto Raptors draft Bruno Cabolco. One of the greatest songs about love at first sight (right up there with “Scarlet Begonias” and “When You Walked Through The Door”), clearly a feeling that was involved in Masai Ujiri and the Raps decision to shock the world and take the 19-year-old Brazilian with their first pick. It was about 30 spots higher than most thought Cabolco would be selected, but Toronto’s scouting staff were enamoured with him from day one. Generally, you’re rolling the dice on the 20th pick anyways, so how could they dance with one of the “safer-bets” still on the board, when they saw Bruno standing there?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsgWfAilIEM
Tomorrow Never Knows
Key lyric: “Listen to the colour of your dreams. It is not leaving.”
NBA move: LeBron James heads back to Cleveland. Maybe “it” is leaving again, after all… From everything that came out of his letter, it would seem that LeBron is committed to his hometown for the long haul, desperate to make things right (while also moving to a better on-court situation). So it came as something of a surprise when it was reported that his deal is only for two years, with an opt-out option after the first. Granted, much of that likely has to do with the next collective bargaining agreement, which will be negotiated in two seasons and is expected to allow for larger contracts. But while that short-term deal may be a smokescreen of sorts, it does make it harder to feel certain about LeBron’s long-term future with the Cavs.
I’ve Got a Feeling
Key lyric: “I’ve got a feeling, that keeps me on my toes”
NBA move: Phoenix Suns sign PG Isaiah Thomas. I’ve got a feeling that the Suns’ potential three-point-guard lineup of Thomas, Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe—all on the court at the same time—will actually work. Both Bledsoe and Dragic offer a combination of size and athleticism that allows for a lot of versatility in that Suns’ offense, as we saw last year. It’s unorthodox, it’s fun, it’s exactly what this Suns team is all about.
All You Need Is Love
Key lyric: “[There’s] nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.”
NBA move: Kyle Lowry re-signs with the Raptors. Last year, for the first time in his career, Lowry found himself in a situation that fit—a team that not only thrived behind both his leadership and playing ability, but wanted him to be there for many years—and Lowry he responded in every way. Sometimes love really is all you need (…$42 million certainly doesn’t hurt, either).
I’ll Follow the Sun
Key lyric: “But tomorrow may rain, so I’ll follow the sun.”
NBA move: Chris Bosh re-signs with the Heat. He could have signed with the Rockets and pursued another ring on what would have been a bona fide contender. But instead, he chose to stay put. Based on everything he’s said and done in the past, Bosh seems like a guy who values consistency in his life, and it took him quite some time before he settled in South Beach. Besides, he gets a crack at being a primary option again, provided his four years with the Heatles didn’t ruin his sometimes-fragile psyche. The Rockets may have been the better option, but it could’ve rained, so Bosh followed the sun (and sand… and $118 million).
I Me Mine
Key lyric: “All I can hear, I me mine, I me mine, I me mine/Even those tears, I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.”
NBA move: Carmelo Anthony re-signs with New York. The song title and lyrics certainly capture selfishness, but Melo reportedly left between $6-7 million on the table in negotiating his five-year/$123-million deal—so that was really nice of him. Still, based on the suitors he spurned, Anthony clearly wasn’t looking for the best basketball situation. Instead, he’ll remain on a team where he is and will continue to be, for better or worse, the man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pFCPTYq5Tc
Cry Baby Cry
Key lyric: “You’re old enough to know better”
NBA move: LeBron leaves Miami. What now if you’re Dwyane Wade? It’s a safe bet Wade will remain in Miami for life, but his dreams of winning another championship just bolted to Cleveland. Are Chris Bosh and Luol Deng enough to ensure you’re playing meaningful basketball as your career winds down? Besides, his partner in crime just left him in the dust, holding a pistol filled with blanks—so you can understand why Wade could use a good cry right about now.
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
Key lyric: “Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy working overtime”
NBA move: Oklahoma City Thunder sign Anthony Morrow. Morrow is a streaky shooter, who, when he’s hot can be a deadly marksman from deep. Expect the Thunder to encourage his trigger-happy tendencies in close games all season.
Chains
Key lyric: “My baby’s got me locked up in chains/And they ain’t the kind that you can see”
NBA move: Utah Jazz match Charlotte’s offer sheet on Gordon Hayward. The Hornets were prepared to grossly overpay Hayward, a move their fans—desperate for an infusion of potential star talent±would have happily bought in to. Only they never got the chance, as the Jazz matched the deal, locking up arguably they’re most valuable asset long-term. You can understand why, but it must be awkward knowing your “star” player was more than ready to bolt before you had to put the chains on him.
Baby, You’re a Rich Man
Key lyric: “How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?”
NBA move: ALL OF THEM! $9 million per season for Jordan Hill? $4.5 mil for Ben Gordon? $12 mil each for Chandler Parsons and Gordon Hayward? $4 mil for Thabo Sefolosha? $6 mil for Darren Collison? And that’s not factoring in the max or near-max deals handed out to the likes of LeBron, Bosh and Melo. The bottom line: free agency is a lucrative opportunity.
Fixing a Hole
Key lyric: “See the people standing there who disagree and never win, and wonder why they don’t get in the door.”
NBA move: Chicago Bulls sign Pau Gasol. Ok, so the Bulls didn’t need Gasol. But with the Central division getting way tougher with the addition of LeBron James, they did need to do something to improve their already rock-solid roster. Gasol can help contribute to their stellar defense, while providing a reliable low-post scoring option that the team hasn’t had since Carlos Boozer vanished off the face of the earth a couple of seasons ago.
Don’t Let Me Down
Key lyric: …(kind of self-explanatory, no?)
NBA move: Chandler Parsons signs a max offer sheet with the Mavs. The Rockets really swung and missed with this one—turning down a team option on Parsons that would have paid him less than $1-million next season, and allowing him to become a restricted free agent instead. But the bigger regrets may play out in Dallas, where the Mavs saw fit to pay Parsons nearly $13 million per season over the next four years. That’s a major commitment. One that puts a lot of pressure on a guy with a relatively unimpressive track record.
And Your Bird Can Sing
Key lyric: “You tell me that you’ve got everything you want/And your bird can sing/But you don’t get me, you don’t get me.”
NBA Move: The Pacers’ quiet summer. It looks like the Pacers and GM Larry Bird won’t get Lance Stephenson back after he turned down their initial offer. But Bird has made some subtle moves that could really benefit his club. First off, he’s not bringing back Evan Turner, the former second-overall pick acquired at last year’s trade deadline. Turner proved to be wholly ineffective in his stint with the Pacers, and the promise of potential clearly isn’t enough for Mr. Bird to write a fat cheque. Bird did, however, sign renowned Croatian sharp-shooter Damjan Rudez from Europe, who just may turn out to be a sleeping giant, and inked underrated shooter CJ Miles, also to address the loss of outside scoring in Stephenson’s absence.
…The fact is, there are no shortage of options here, and so many worthy selections missed the cut. So, what Beatles tunes did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
