Franchise Player Tag/Contract **NEW**TEST**

[Bravenewworld]

I tossed this idea on another board just to see how it would go over.
Now im going to toss it over to you guys and see what you think and then maybe expand from there.

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The NBA is drowning in talent right now. They seem to have more great players then they know what to do with and this is causing contracts to be higher then what they should be. As medicine and technology improve, so will athletes. Thus making this an on-going situation for the NBA.

I was reading a few articles and watching interviews where players were still upset with how contracts are "so low" given the amount the owners are making off them (which given the state of our country, i dont feel for them one bit but we can work around this) and the realization that this attitude is whats leading players to get 5 million dollars extra on a contract if they are worth it or not and the whole justification for this amount is the eventual rise in cap.

Jalen Rose was also going over how it seems like 12-15 is now the new 6-9, which again makes some sense BUT the cap is raising slower then they are handing out these contracts. If we are going to see this much of a drastic increase of salary, then we are going to see just one players contract suck up all the added cap.
Anyway, i got this idea as a way to make players happy, keep the cap at a reasonable place, all while increasing the number of contending teams while also stabilizing "lesser" franchises (AKA "small market" franchises) and potentially preventing another lock-out due to CBA.

Franchise Tags

The NBA either adds to the current CBA or places along side in its own separate deal, the following:

Each team would get four franchise tags.
2 Out of Rookie Contract Tags (ORCT)
2 Rookie Contract Tags (RCT)

The "terms" suggest they are centered specifically around rookie or non-rookie contracts, but that is really just a general or ideal term, age is really going to be the main factor.

- At no time can a single team have more than a total of four ORCT or RCTs.

- ORCT or RCTs can both be traded as normal contract and fall under all established trade rules.

- Every ORCT contract includes a no-trade clause.

- Every RCT contract includes a best-case-no-trade clause.
--- "Best-case no-trade clause" Version 1.0 Is a clause that ensures a player cannot be traded to a team with a worse record of 5 or more full game, without the players approval.
--- "Best-case no-trade clause" Version 1.2 Is a clause that ensures a player cannot be traded to a team with a better or worse record of 2.5 or more full game, without the players approval.

Rookie Contract Tags (RCT)

- Player must be 23 or younger.

- Player will be given and guaranteed two (2) 5 year contracts.

- Before the 6th season (start of second contract) and at the end of the 5th season the player and franchise will be given the option to agree on early termination of contract. In order for this to occur, both parties must be willing.

- The first five (5) year contract will be for a flat 11 million per season.

- The second five (5) year contract will be for a flat 14 million per season.

- At the beginning of each contract, said player will receive an 5 million dollar bonus, off the cap.

- Starting in the first (1st) year of the first contract and every other year following, a player will be given a bonus of 3 million dollars that will not count against the teams salary cap.

- Starting in the second (2nd) year of the first contract and every other year following, a player will be rewarded a bonus of 3 million dollars that will not count against the teams salary cap.
--- In order to qualify for said bi-annual reward, the team must make the play-offs.
--- GMs may agree to added requirements for rewards, but they need to be universal. No individual player statistics or achievement requirements.


Out of Rookie Contract Tags (ORCT)

- Player cannot be younger than 24 or older than 29.

- Player will be given and guaranteed two (2) 4 year contracts.

- Before the 5th season (start of second contract) and at the end of the 4th season the player and franchise will be given the option to agree on early termination of contract. In order for this to occur, both parties must be willing.

- The first four (4) year contract will be for a flat 14 million per season.

- The second four (4) year contract will be for a flat 17 million per season.

- At the beginning of each contract, said player will receive an 8 million dollar bonus, off the cap.

- Starting in the first (1st) year of the first contract and every other year following, a player will be given a bonus of 5 million dollars that will not count against the teams salary cap.

- Starting in the second (2nd) year of the first contract and every other year following, a player will be rewarded a bonus of 5 million dollars that will not count against the teams salary cap.
--- In order to qualify for said bi-annual reward, the team must make the play-offs.
--- GMs may agree to added requirements for rewards, but they need to be universal. No individual player statistics or achievement requirements.

[spearsy23]

Meh, too complicated. I'd prefer one franchise tag to spend on a player drafted by your team,the tag is capped at 30 or 35 mill per season and doesn't apply to the overall salary cap. Give incentive for stars to stay with their team, give teams incentive to draft well, open 16-20 mill in cap space for the other 8 guys per team not on minimum contracts or rookie scale

[bondom34]

Its definitely interesting, I'd agree I'd rather one tag per team though, as giving 4 limits free agency a ton.

[Bravenewworld]

Its definitely interesting, I'd agree I'd rather one tag per team though, as giving 4 limits free agency a ton.

Not really, it ends up not being much different from what we see now. Except that it will be slightly easier for teams to nab up a fourth option.
Like, lets say OKC did it with Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka and Adams. It would still leave about 20 for the rest of the roster and given how strict lux cap rules are now, even the richer franchises are going to avoid it.

It ends up being similar to what we have, except its easier and safer for "lesser" (all) teams to go after good players and maintain a good roster.
It's also something that would only really work with multiple tags as with simply one, it would just be a quick 5 mill saving or whatever. Not really addressing how quickly player salaries are going up, versus how slowly the cap will be going up and how expensive tax is now. One of the reasons i even considered something like this was because of the insane amount of talent we have entering the NBA right now.... The NBA is expanding faster then it can really handle. Teams are not financially prepared to deal with this massive influx of great players, i mean, look at whats happened with PGs in recent history. We're also starting to see this with PFs and centers again.

[bondom34]

Its definitely interesting, I'd agree I'd rather one tag per team though, as giving 4 limits free agency a ton.

Not really, it ends up not being much different from what we see now. Except that it will be slightly easier for teams to nab up a fourth option.
Like, lets say OKC did it with Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka and Adams. It would still leave about 20 for the rest of the roster and given how strict lux cap rules are now, even the richer franchises are going to avoid it.

It ends up being similar to what we have, except its easier and safer for "lesser" (all) teams to go after good players and maintain a good roster.
It's also something that would only really work with multiple tags as with simply one, it would just be a quick 5 mill saving or whatever. Not really addressing how quickly player salaries are going up, versus how slowly the cap will be going up and how expensive tax is now. One of the reasons i even considered something like this was because of the insane amount of talent we have entering the NBA right now.... The NBA is expanding faster then it can really handle. Teams are not financially prepared to deal with this massive influx of great players, i mean, look at whats happened with PGs in recent history. We're also starting to see this with PFs and centers again.

I meant it limits players being free to move.

[Bravenewworld]

Meh, too complicated. I'd prefer one franchise tag to spend on a player drafted by your team,the tag is capped at 30 or 35 mill per season and doesn't apply to the overall salary cap. Give incentive for stars to stay with their team, give teams incentive to draft well, open 16-20 mill in cap space for the other 8 guys per team not on minimum contracts or rookie scale

Heh.
Its actually very simplistic by comparison to NBA contract rules.

See my above comment to Bon. One, does not really address what this is supposed to address. One would just be a little extra for a team, which is not the objective.

[Bravenewworld]

I meant it limits players being free to move.

Why?
As i added to the rules, they can be released after the first contract. Which would be no different from contracts now and they can be traded as regular contracts.

[bondom34]

I meant it limits players being free to move.

Why?
As i added to the rules, they can be released after the first contract. Which would be no different from contracts now and they can be traded as regular contracts.

I mean players would likely see it as limiting their ability to move via free agency, I don't think they'd agree to it. They'd be stuck in one place for 8-10 years unless traded. Its simpler if teams have 1 to use.

[Bravenewworld]

I meant it limits players being free to move.

Why?
As i added to the rules, they can be released after the first contract. Which would be no different from contracts now and they can be traded as regular contracts.

I mean players would likely see it as limiting their ability to move via free agency, I don't think they'd agree to it. They'd be stuck in one place for 8-10 years unless traded. Its simpler if teams have 1 to use.

I think they would because there is a financial advantage they would not get otherwise.
There would also be team stability advantages that otherwise would be a mess (which we see with many teams currently) that works in favor for the players and the franchise.

And its not an 8-10 year contract, its two 4-5 year contracts. There is that break in order for a player to determine if they do want to go some place else or not. Its also worth noting that most players who would fall into these categories, are locked up at a franchise for 8-10 years already. Its actually less common to see guys like KD, Kobe, KG, Rose, etc. go some place else after their first rookie contract. So, rookie contract 4 years + extension 5 = 9 for most players already.

This could also get rid of those bogus advanced bird years that are bull. Like the "Rose" rule or the "arenas" rule.