[Wiretap] Adam Silver is happy with the new CBA system. Are you?

[GSWFan1994]

Adam Silver: NBA's New CBA System 'Appears To Be Working'


Mr. Silver arriving for a work day in the NBA headquarters, NY city.

The 2024 NBA offseason has been the first one where teams, players, agents, media and fans have been able to evaluate the effects of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, particularly the aprons that limit the tools available to sign and acquire players. In his press conference from Summer League on Tuesday, Adam Silver said the feedback he has received so far has been positive.

"The early feedback is that the system appears to be working in that we are very clear that we set out to put more pressure on the high end; that while we’re not looking to completely flatten salaries throughout the league, part of the goals we set in collective bargaining was to ensure that every team was in a position to compete for championships and had the resources available to do so," said Silver.

"I think what we’re seeing in the new deal is it’s going above the second apron, for example, doesn’t just have financial consequences. Those financial consequences are pretty severe, but they have impact on your ability to sign players and draft players.

"What I’m hearing from teams, even as the second apron is moving to kick in, the teams are realizing there are real teeth in those provisions.

"I don’t know how to view this, but I know reports have come out that the summer was boring from a fan standpoint. I don’t certainly think it was. We still saw a lot of critically important players moving from one team to another as free agents.

"But at the same time, I think this new system, while I don’t want it to be boring, I want to put teams in a position, 30 teams, to better compete. I think we’re on our way to doing that.

"I’ll just say lastly what I’ve learned over the years of having been part of the negotiation of many different deals is sometimes the impact is difficult to project and anticipate because ultimately it’s hard to model precisely how teams and players will respond to certain systems.

"I would say it’s still early days. Again, from what we want to see happen, we’re pretty happy."

Silver also was asked a question about the NBA's increase in parity with six different champions over the past six years and whether he gets a sense some people are pining for the types of dynasties that have defined the growth of the league.

"I get asked that question a lot, whether we’re set out not to have dynasties or whether we’ve created a system where we don’t have repeat championships," said Silver. "My answer is that as long as we can create something close to a level playing field in terms of the tools available to teams to compete, I’m absolutely fine with dynasties and I’m fine with new teams emerging every year.

"I think what the fans want to see is great competition. And for fans of whatever team they’re rooting for, they want to believe that their team, regardless of the size of the market or the depth of the pockets of ownership, are in a position to compete in the same way the 29 other teams are.

"So from my standpoint, as long as teams are emerging through strong management, great players, great chemistry, through great coaches and great management of the organization, let the results happen however they play out. I don’t have a predetermined view.

"I do think, though, the fact that we’ve had six different champions over the last six years does speak to the system. I mean, it does suggest that through successive Collective Bargaining Agreements, through changes in our revenue-sharing programs and other things we are able to control at the league, statistically the league has become more competitive over time."

[Wingy]

It’s fine.

It’s built to avoid Lebroning.

I wish there were measures that didn’t punish teams (or at least not nearly as harshly) for having good front offices that draft and/or develop homegrown talent.

[gottamakeit]

I'm a fan of parity and more teams being relevant. And i thank the CBA for that.

[gottamakeit]

I wish there were measures that didn’t punish teams (or at least not nearly as harshly) for having good front offices that draft and/or develop homegrown talent.

I think the CBA could be refined for that case. homegrown-talent exemptions in the second apron

[Drakeem]

Yup, and I think it's going to get better as time goes on. Sometimes you have to wait out the growing pains when it comes to new things, and a lot of GMs are still of the idea that you should be offering max contracts to players even if they're not deserving to "outbid" the competitors. While it might work in the short term for a small window at a ring, in the long term contracts like MPJs won't be sustainable for teams looking to make long term runs.

I think we're going to see a restructuring of the market for a lot of players, and we'll see a more reasonable pay scale from Jokic to the 15th man on the team. A lot of these big contracts given to players won't be available anymore bc the good teams that really need them wont be able to pay, and rebuilding teams with cap space probably won't want to handcuff themselves and speed up the rebuild when they have rookie extensions coming up.

[Karate Diop]

I'm indifferent to a lot of it, I think the middle of the pack NBA players are going to get squeezed and would have liked to see something done to punish players who don't honor their contracts.

[dhsilv2]

Yup, and I think it's going to get better as time goes on. Sometimes you have to wait out the growing pains when it comes to new things, and a lot of GMs are still of the idea that you should be offering max contracts to players even if they're not deserving to "outbid" the competitors. While it might work in the short term for a small window at a ring, in the long term contracts like MPJs won't be sustainable for teams looking to make long term runs.

I think we're going to see a restructuring of the market for a lot of players, and we'll see a more reasonable pay scale from Jokic to the 15th man on the team. A lot of these big contracts given to players won't be available anymore bc the good teams that really need them wont be able to pay, and rebuilding teams with cap space probably won't want to handcuff themselves and speed up the rebuild when they have rookie extensions coming up.

Nah, teams trying to sustain success will pay or lose players. Either you keep yours second and third guy or you lose your bench. That's the goal.

[Black Jack]

I am ideologically opposed to maximum salaries for labor if capital has uncapped upside.

Also I think letting teams pay superstars they drafted so much more is unfair to players. Why should a guy have to give up tens of millions to get out of a city or team that he doesn't like after several years of being there only.

Player empowerment is good, actually.

[nomansland]

Right now I hate it. It was terrible timing for the Nuggets and probably screwed them more than anyone at first.

But I think over time it'll benefit them so I went with moderately happy.

[KembaWalker]

I am ideologically opposed to maximum salaries for labor if capital has uncapped upside.

Also I think letting teams pay superstars they drafted so much more is unfair to players. Why should a guy have to give up tens of millions to get out of a city or team that he doesn't like after several years of being there only.

Player empowerment is good, actually.

i dont get how one side has uncapped upside and the other doesn't when they are splitting BRI 50/50 no matter what the announced "cap salaries" are

[whatisacenter]

It needs a provision to make it so a team is not penalized for extending players they drafted.

A team that drafts 3 great players will have a difficult time staying under the 2nd apron and signing them all to max extensions.

[Drakeem]

Yup, and I think it's going to get better as time goes on. Sometimes you have to wait out the growing pains when it comes to new things, and a lot of GMs are still of the idea that you should be offering max contracts to players even if they're not deserving to "outbid" the competitors. While it might work in the short term for a small window at a ring, in the long term contracts like MPJs won't be sustainable for teams looking to make long term runs.

I think we're going to see a restructuring of the market for a lot of players, and we'll see a more reasonable pay scale from Jokic to the 15th man on the team. A lot of these big contracts given to players won't be available anymore bc the good teams that really need them wont be able to pay, and rebuilding teams with cap space probably won't want to handcuff themselves and speed up the rebuild when they have rookie extensions coming up.

Nah, teams trying to sustain success will pay or lose players. Either you keep yours second and third guy or you lose your bench. That's the goal.

But that's just the thing, how long can you "sustain" paying those players? Denver just gave up KCP bc of this, Philly will only be able to field this team for 3 years or so. OKC is going to have to make some very difficulty decisions in a few years, etc. If you don't plan out your contracts well, you can overpay all you want but it'll come back to bite your team in the ass, and after a few examples of it happening, more and more teams will be weary about offering a Tobias Harris that kind of money.

[bledredwine]

It’s fine.

It’s built to avoid Lebroning.

I wish there were measures that didn’t punish teams (or at least not nearly as harshly) for having good front offices that draft and/or develop homegrown talent.

Exactly why I like it - whatever stops the pathetic superteams is honorable in my book.

Franchises and teams should mean something. Sports are a form of war and competition. you didn't see Cherokees teaming up with British colonists.

[dhsilv2]

Yup, and I think it's going to get better as time goes on. Sometimes you have to wait out the growing pains when it comes to new things, and a lot of GMs are still of the idea that you should be offering max contracts to players even if they're not deserving to "outbid" the competitors. While it might work in the short term for a small window at a ring, in the long term contracts like MPJs won't be sustainable for teams looking to make long term runs.

I think we're going to see a restructuring of the market for a lot of players, and we'll see a more reasonable pay scale from Jokic to the 15th man on the team. A lot of these big contracts given to players won't be available anymore bc the good teams that really need them wont be able to pay, and rebuilding teams with cap space probably won't want to handcuff themselves and speed up the rebuild when they have rookie extensions coming up.

Nah, teams trying to sustain success will pay or lose players. Either you keep yours second and third guy or you lose your bench. That's the goal.

But that's just the thing, how long can you "sustain" paying those players? Denver just gave up KCP bc of this, Philly will only be able to field this team for 3 years or so. OKC is going to have to make some very difficulty decisions in a few years, etc. If you don't plan out your contracts well, you can overpay all you want but it'll come back to bite your team in the ass, and after a few examples of it happening, more and more teams will be weary about offering a Tobias Harris that kind of money.

You can't. The whole goal here is to make it impossible for a team sustain title contention.

[Wingy]

Right now I hate it. It was terrible timing for the Nuggets and probably screwed them more than anyone at first.

But I think over time it'll benefit them so I went with moderately happy.

Gonna save you from OKC in a few years.

[Billl]

I think it's working as intended so far. The league has as much parity as it ever has. Tanking has been reduced. And the whole superteam thing has faded.

The only real downside is the potential for more guys signing extensions and then just looking to be traded shortly after.

[Wingy]

I think it's working as intended so far. The league has as much parity as it ever has. Tanking has been reduced. And the whole superteam thing has faded.

The only real downside is the potential for more guys signing extensions and then just looking to be traded shortly after.

That will continue until they add something punitive. Like, lose the last year of your deal if you don’t stay for at least 2 (depending on length of deal).

[zimpy27]

Yeah I like it, makes contract decision making more impactful

[OxAndFox]

Think it will be good.

It will take a few years to iron out though. You have a team like Boston who might just have hit the Golden State timing which could result in a few titles and then you have the Nuggets who it has hit head on.
Timing is everything and there are winners and losers early on, but hopefully it will all even out.

[Chinook]

I feel like this thread reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to "draft well". It doesn't mean to get lucky for a couple of years and then hoard that talent forever. It means being able to cycle in new players to replace the guys you have to let go. Teams like GS and Denver didn't want to let players go. They absolutely shouldn't get exceptions carved out. Maybe they'll be more responsible with their draft picks now that they can't keep burning them to push the same core from a decade ago.

There is another option, which is for players to move away from the need to take max contracts that Lebron normalized. If a collection of players wanted to stay together, they used to be required to give up money to make the team finances work. Lebron's scorn at Miami for dumping Mike Miller caused him to push the NBPA away from that ideal and toward pushing the onus of sustained success on teams' finances.

That was never going to be a viable long-term solution, because then only teams that could afford to pay giant tax bills would be able to compete. Because owners have no sense of self-interest, the league had to step in with apron controls to try to even the playing field. It didn't work, and smaller-market teams like Milwaukee eventually were strongarmed into burning money and draft capital to compete. Denver followed suit.

The new apron structure isn't perfect, but its imperfection is that it doesn't include a tightening of the Stepien rule to prevent teams from making huge all-in trades like New York, Brooklyn, Phoenix and Houston have done. Get that market back in control, and contending becomes about smart drafting, guys wanting to stay together and wise, conservative additions via free agency and trades. Small-market teams should be hoping for that future, not acting like temporarily embarrassed large markets.