RealGM

The reason that players like LeBron and Dwyane Wade took shortened contracts was because there was some belief that there'd be significant changes to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. With the big contracts that are being offered by European clubs it seems that changes to the CBA are probably going to be necessary just so that NBA teams can resign their free agents. This very well might be the end of rookie salaries as well as salary caps. What do you think?

If this isn't locked too I'll be pissed.

Jazzfan Bayamon wrote:If this isn't locked too I'll be pissed.

True story...

If that Laker fan's thread was locked (and it was kinda spot-on)

then this should follow it's path.

I think we can expect a lot of changes, but I don't know if the salary cap or rookie scale will be abandoned.

The player's association will probably want to increase the overall level of compensation instead of doing away with rookie scale contracts. The rookie scale system effectively transfers money from young players to vets. Losing it would open the door to holdouts and inflated, potential-based rookie contracts.

The salary cap helps to maintain parity. I can't see the owners--actually the 25 poorer owners--letting it go without a fight. My guess is it will be revised upwards. Or they could shift more emphasis to the luxury tax. They still need something to restrain player salaries on wealthy franchises.

In some ways, the issue is deeper than a new CBA can address. Basically, the players need more money. But where does that come from? Player salary is already climbing in comparison to league income. The NBA is not going to become much more profitable overnight. NBA teams are already inconsistently profitable and generally poor investment. There's going to be a squeeze here, and someone's going to lose out.