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This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:33 pm
by thelead
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?
Re: This CBA seems to bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:35 pm
by Dominator83
They all make FU money. I suspect the next CBA both sides will want to keep this thing rolling
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:42 pm
by hauntedcomputer
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.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:48 pm
by itrsteve
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.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 12:29 am
by HotelVitale
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.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 12:34 am
by magee
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).
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 3:49 am
by Sofia
viewtopic.php?p=106586291#p106586291
Called it. I’m more than just a great ass
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 3:51 am
by Dominator83
Sofia wrote:viewtopic.php?p=106586291#p106586291
Called it. I’m more then just a great ass
can't confirm without seeing
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:01 am
by Rainwater
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/
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:06 am
by Sixers in 4
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.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:09 am
by ConSarnit
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?
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:11 am
by Tor_Raps
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..
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:15 am
by f4p
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.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:16 am
by SFour
Role players in the NBA are still getting paid better than superstars in other leagues like the NHL....don't feel bad for them.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:20 am
by LAvision
How the Players agreed to this is mind blowing.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:23 am
by One Last Shot
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.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:24 am
by Sofia
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
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:27 am
by Pointgod
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.
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 4:32 am
by rand
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
Re: This CBA seems to be bad business for mid-tier players
Posted: Tue Jul 1, 2025 5:04 am
by jbk1234
There are a lot of older stars on their last max deals right now.