This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players

thelead · Post #1 » by **thelead** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:33 pm

With the apron/tax rules, teams are almost forced to pay their best players max money, even if some don’t fully deserve it, and then spread peanuts to the others on the team. I wonder how the players association meetings will go next go around. I can’t image the majority of players are happy about how the money is being divided. Am I off here?

Dominator83 · Post #2 » by **Dominator83** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:35 pm

They all make FU money. I suspect the next CBA both sides will want to keep this thing rolling

hauntedcomputer · Post #3 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:42 pm

Looks to me like pretend stars are getting de-valued. Superstars are still underpaid. And mid-tier are starting to get properly valued.

Like D'Angelo Russell making less than Ty Jerome now.

The aprons are going to reward well-rounded teams.

itrsteve · Post #4 » by **itrsteve** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:48 pm

I believe it will self correct. The model will be one max guy (who you pray doesn’t get hurt) then a wider middle class.

Going to take a few years for the bigger/low value contracts to expire.

HotelVitale · Post #5 » by **HotelVitale** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 12:29 am

Not saying you’re wrong but as always with these things it helps if you can check it against the past. What was the time when those players consistently made a larger percentage of the cap than now? Always helps to know a) if the change from the past to now is real and b) how long that state of affairs lasted.

Post #6 » by **magee** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 12:34 am

Yeah this will balance itself out. It forces teams to make sure to balance their depth out accordingly, while being able to keep drafted players home (Jabari Smith, Jr., JJJ, Cade Cunningham).

Sofia · Post #7 » by **Sofia** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 3:49 am

viewtopic.php?p=106586291#p106586291

Called it. I’m more than just a great ass

Dominator83 · Post #8 » by **Dominator83** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 3:51 am

Sofia wrote:viewtopic.php?p=106586291#p106586291

Called it. I’m more then just a great ass

can't confirm without seeing :wink:

Rainwater · Post #9 » by **Rainwater** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:01 am

This was kind of a known issue when the new CBA was signed. The player's Assocation should have dealt with it before they agreed upon it. Austin Rivers talked about this in fact.

"Our CBA deal that we just signed, and I don't even wanna get heavy into that, that thing is, don't even get me f—king started on that deal that we got going because it's top-heavy," Rivers said. "That's why we're seeing all these teams right now, you either make $50 million or $2 [million]. It's the most lopsided contract, teams, it's a joke, bro. I can't tell you how many mid-level guys are signing for the vet minimum around the NBA."

Unfortunately for the NBA's middle class, the new CBA might only exacerbate the problem. Starting in the 2024-25 season, teams can use the non-taxpayer MLE, room MLE and/or bi-annual exception to acquire a player in a trade or via waivers. Teams won't be allowed to aggregate these exceptions—i.e., a team couldn't acquire a $15 million player by combining the non-taxpayer MLE and bi-annual exception—but some teams might prefer keeping that $12 million trade exception in their back pocket rather than spending it in free agency.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/10/11/it-might-only-get-worse-for-the-nbas-middle-class-moving-forward/

Sixers in 4 · Post #10 » by **Sixers in 4** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:06 am

Not all mid tier players a certain type of mid tier player.

We saw DFS get a decent deal and others. If you compete defensively and can hit a 3PT shot you are still going to make good money.

ConSarnit · Post #11 » by **ConSarnit** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:09 am

This is the first opening day of free agency that I can ever remember where I haven’t said “wow, that’s a horrific deal”. Maybe the new CBA is working?

Tor_Raps · Post #12 » by **Tor_Raps** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:11 am

Teams are gonna learn to stop giving out max deals to all their young players, so many that are undeserving. Just gotta be smarter on who you break the bank for..

f4p · Post #13 » by **f4p** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:15 am

Mid tier guys have always been a terrible deal. You either want max guys or rookie guys. Guys who score and don't play D should have never been paid.

SFour · Post #14 » by **SFour** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:16 am

Role players in the NBA are still getting paid better than superstars in other leagues like the NHL....don't feel bad for them.

LAvision · Post #15 » by **LAvision** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:20 am

How the Players agreed to this is mind blowing.

One Last Shot · Post #16 » by **One Last Shot** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:23 am

Right I miss those days when the Lakers sign Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov for 18% of salary cap. That's equivalent to $28 million per year for the salary cap next season.

Sofia · Post #17 » by **Sofia** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:24 am

Dominator83 wrote:
Sofia wrote:viewtopic.php?p=106586291#p106586291

Called it. I’m more then just a great ass

can't confirm without seeing

of only

Pointgod · Post #18 » by **Pointgod** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:27 am

This CBA is and for both the teams and non superstar players. The NBAPA were absolute morons for signing this. Really the only players it benefits are superstars and rookie scale players.

rand · Post #19 » by **rand** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:32 am

Is this really true?

Naz: $25M/yr
Smith: $24.4M/yr
Caruso: $20.2M/yr
Aldama: $17M/yr
NAW: $15.5M/yr
Portis: $14.7M/yr
LeVert: $14.5M/yr
DFS: $13.3M/yr
Adams: $13M/yr
Mitchell: $12M/yr
Kornet: $10.3M/yr

Seems like there's still a mid-range

Post #20 » by **jbk1234** » Tue Jul 1, 2025 5:04 am

There are a lot of older stars on their last max deals right now.