Potential NBA Hard Cap

[KingLakers]

With the comments of the Washingtons owner if the NBA goes with an NHL-like cap system and teams are forced to waive at least a couple of their big contracts because of a hard cap. Who would the Lakers waive? My guess it would be Walton (obviously) and Artest because the Lakers have Ebanks and they can probably resign Barnes for less then what Artest is making right now. What do you guys think the Lakers will do?

[crazyeights]

I would cut Pau and Bynum. Then wait to pick up Rashard and Bargnani with the minimum.

[Slava]

This could probably be the only way we can get rid of Walton's contract but this is never happening. The players' association will never agree to something that hits their pockets as deep as a hard cap would.

[crazyeights]

So we'd actually be able to cut players and not have to buy them out? Not very familiar with a hard cap...

[Dr Aki]

how are trades going to be affected? part of the fun of making trades is there are rules to follow that make it harder to accomplish

[Slava]

So we'd actually be able to cut players and not have to buy them out? Not very familiar with a hard cap...

I don't think anyone knows since no league I know of has switched from soft cap to a hard cap rather abruptly.

[Dr Aki]

a hard cap punishes teams that draft well. i really don't look forward to a hard cap

[Dalakerbox]

so if a hard cap is implemented, would that mean this maybe our last chance to keep this group together to go after more titles? I would assume the bigger contracts couldn't stay because we have Kobe eating a big chunk already, or would we have the chance to re-negotiate contracts and players would have the chance to take less to stay with their team if they choose? What would this do to the Celtics, and will the Miami Cheat have to break up after only a season together? Does anyone know what the cap is for NHL? I have so many questions because I have little knowledge of the hard cap, and very concerned that we would either have to let Pau walk or both Odom and Artest. On a more positive note this could make things more even and competitive league wide, and could make for a more exciting season and playoffs.

[Gek]

Look at that the Blackhawks had to do after winning the Stanley Cup - a hard cap is not the way to go. I prefer the soft cap system.

[Sedale Threatt]

This could probably be the only way we can get rid of Walton's contract but this is never happening. The players' association will never agree to something that hits their pockets as deep as a hard cap would.

Yeah, I could see them sitting out a full season over this one, if the players could take it. If you think about it, they've got a pretty fabulous deal -- soft cap and guaranteed contracts? Makes you wonder what Gene Upshaw was doing with the NFL.

[Dalakerbox]

They should actually be concerned about these teams over seas throwing crazy money at these players if there is a lock out. I would hate for Kobe to have to sit out a full year

[Slava]

Even if the hard cap is to be implemented in a few seasons and teams are indicated to trim their salaries by then, it has to be significantly higher than the current cap and have a provision for performance based incentives.

If things like the MLE signings cease to exist, its not the superstars but the mid to lower tier players that take a significant hit.

[KingLakers]

The best way to explain how a switch to a hard cap would happen is what the NHL did five years ago. They set a hard cap at 45m teams were allowed to buy out contracts at 2/3 price and those players couldn't resign with the same teams at a lower price. The rest of the contracts that weren't bout out were reduced by 24%. That is a simple explanation of it but thats about what happend. The NBA won't be as drastic because it is financially more stable than the NHL. The hard cap in the NBA would probably be much higher Larry Coon a guy that works for ESPN said that a potential NBA hard cap will probably be around 68m. But I personally believe some sort of NBA hard cap is coming because owners could easily say look all the money the NFL is making with a hard cap. And yes I know the NFL has its own major labor issues coming up but most people think whatever happens in the NFL next season CBA-wise the hard cap probably isn't going anywhere.

[laduane1]

The NBA is making a ton of money off teams like the Lakers that are over the tax. Dollar for dollar adds up fast. Take that away. I never can see that happening. Hard cap will never be done. Clippers would still be under the cap. lol

[The Skyhook]

I think it will basically come down to owners of big market teams vs small market teams. I have a feeling that a hard cap will not sit well with the players.

[Slava]

Someone like Memphis cannot complain about losing revenue after paying Rudy Gay a max contract.

[Jase]

This could probably be the only way we can get rid of Walton's contract but this is never happening. The players' association will never agree to something that hits their pockets as deep as a hard cap would.

Fisher already spoke out against it.

[DEEP3CL]

This could probably be the only way we can get rid of Walton's contract but this is never happening. The players' association will never agree to something that hits their pockets as deep as a hard cap would.

They have no choice this time J, for the past decade the players have raked in more of the revenue than the owners. Time for the players to pay up or the owners will play hard ball from here on out.

Personally I hate a hard cap, all it does is level the field. The reality of it is that is still won't matter, bad franchises will continue to run themselves in the ground with bad deals anyway. In the end smarter franchises won't over pay for minimal players anymore. No more bad Luke and Sasha deal......that's all it means.

[countrybama24]

Someone like Memphis cannot complain about losing revenue after paying Rudy Gay a max contract.

All the ridiculous contracts given out just show that the current system is broken. Small market teams have to overpay in order to retain their talent, since they can't just let their most valuable asset walk for nothing.

But it's a catch-22. A lower hard cap means every team can throw around pretty much the same money, so the non-monetary factors that big cities such as LA have (nightlife, places for rich people to buy a bunch of useless ****, warm weather, better endorsement deals from larger markets) become even MORE important under a hard cap. LA might not be able to outspend anyone, but other teams can't outspend to keep their players off the market, so those players that do hit the (unrestricted) free agency are just as likely to gravitate to big market / highly profitable teams anyways, since those teams have other structural advantages.

In short, a hard cap isn't gonna eliminate LAs advantages over other teams in recruiting / signing players, it only makes those smaller teams more profitable.

[DEEP3CL]

Someone like Memphis cannot complain about losing revenue after paying Rudy Gay a max contract.

All the ridiculous contracts given out just show that the current system is broken. Small market teams have to overpay in order to retain their talent, since they can't just let their most valuable asset walk for nothing.

But it's a catch-22. A lower hard cap means every team can throw around pretty much the same money, so the non-monetary factors that big cities such as LA have (nightlife, places for rich people to buy a bunch of useless ****, warm weather, better endorsement deals from larger markets) become even MORE important under a hard cap. LA might not be able to outspend anyone, but other teams can't outspend to keep their players off the market, so those players that do hit the (unrestricted) free agency are just as likely to gravitate to big market / highly profitable teams anyways, since those teams have other structural advantages.

In short, a hard cap isn't gonna eliminate LAs advantages over other teams in recruiting / signing players, it only makes those smaller teams more profitable.

Excellent post, you need to show this to that Heat fan Tim_Hardawayy. Dude seems to think a hard cap will totally keep teams like the Lakers and Boston from being able to compete long term. Your post exemplifies the very ways those teams will always stay elite.