Latest: $45 mill hard cap and 2 amnesty exceptions

[SlyPokerDog]

Hearing different things on sports talk radio and the internets with one rumor being the owners want a $45mill hard cap and 2 amnesty clause exceptions. One would give a team salary cap and luxury tax relief and the other would give only luxury tax relief.

A $45mill hard cap would be a game changer. Lots of good players would be suddenly available for very little money. For example it would mean Miami would go from the big three to the big two and Bosh would be bought out.

So what 2 players would Portland dump? Roy, yes. But who else? Camby?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Wow, a $45 million hard cap is VERY low (compared to current team salaries under the current soft cap). Assuming 15 players per roster, that brings the average NBA salary down to $3 million per season, roughly half what it is currently. Even at only 12 per roster, that's an average salary of only $3.75 million. That's a huge pay cut for the players.

If the owners are serious and plan to stick to their guns, I see a VERY long lockout looming. I just don't see the players agreeing to anything close to that.

BNM

 

[RR7]

They would have to slowly implement that hard cap. Otherwise, even with those two cuts, some teams wouldn't get under the cap. Would need to be gradual.

I hate the idea of it, personally. Hate the idea of a hard cap in general. And agree, if that is what they're aiming for, it'll be a long lockout.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

this is the first line of negotiations, i predict

age limit 21

no hard cap

stiffer lux tax penalties

no salary roll backs

partially guaranteed contracts, like nfl, with signing bonuses

franchise player where they can be fully guaranteed

1 amnesty for lux tax only

lower rookie scale for the top 10

no mle

no sign and trades

overtime goes to 4 on 4 sudden death

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's called negotiating. Of course the owners are going to ask for a very low hard cap. The players don't (didn't) want one at all. I bet both sides will agree to a $55-60mil hard cap. It's the 2 potential contract buyouts that are intriguing. You could see some really big name players suddenly available for cheap.

 

[PapaG]

There is no fucking way a $45 million hard cap will be implemented. LOL

I do give the owners credit for playing hardball, though. Who will be the first NBA All-Star to accept an uncapped offer from a Euro team, though?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

this is the first line of negotiations, i predict

age limit 21

no hard cap

stiffer lux tax penalties

no salary roll backs

partially guaranteed contracts, like nfl, with signing bonuses

franchise player where they can be fully guaranteed

1 amnesty for lux tax only

lower rookie scale for the top 10

no mle

no sign and trades

overtime goes to 4 on 4 sudden death

The players aren't going to care if the amnesty comes off of the cap and lux tax so I think they'll agree to it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

There is no fucking way a $45 million hard cap will be implemented. LOL

I do give the owners credit for playing hardball, though. Who will be the first NBA All-Star to accept an uncapped offer from a Euro team, though?

Rudy!

(NBA all star weekend dunk contest & rookie game participant)

 

[Denny Crane]

$45M is way too low... Maybe it would go up each year.

There's no way the new agreement should force teams to shed players. As much as we may not like it that Miami signed LeBron and Bosh, it would be really unfair to the Heat fans.

The guaranteed contracts are fine, but I would like to see teams able to cut a player and reuse his contract size against the cap. Like the Blazers could outright cut Roy and use his salary to sign other players. The Blazers would be on the hook to pay the remainder of his contract though. Guys who can't play anymore but are owed big bucks won't be on someone's roster anymore. The overall talent level should improve.

 

[julius]

$45M is way too low... Maybe it would go up each year.

There's no way the new agreement should force teams to shed players. As much as we may not like it that Miami signed LeBron and Bosh, it would be really unfair to the Heat fans.

Wah, unfair to Heat fans.

signed,

Sonic Fans.

 

[Denny Crane]

Wah, unfair to Heat fans.

signed,

Sonic Fans.

It would be unfair to Mavericks fans, too. And Detroit would be seriously fucked.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If a hard cap came in that low then it would almost certainly involve an across-the-board salary roll-back for all players in the league. No team is going to sign off on a CBA that forces them to shed half their roster.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

this is the first line of negotiations, i predict

age limit 21

no hard cap

stiffer lux tax penalties

no salary roll backs

partially guaranteed contracts, like nfl, with signing bonuses

franchise player where they can be fully guaranteed

1 amnesty for lux tax only

lower rookie scale for the top 10

no mle

no sign and trades

overtime goes to 4 on 4 sudden death

Are you kidding me? Basketball is a 5-player, team sport! Why not just go until someone has spelled out H - O - R - S - E ?

 

[julius]

It would be unfair to Mavericks fans, too. And Detroit would be seriously fucked.

I think if you gave Sonic fans the option of having the Sonics back minus Kevin Durant, they'd probably take it. Not that it's a choice of "lose 1 player or lose the team", but I think it's funny how we're talking about "unfair" when it comes to this.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

A hard cap is the way to go, but I can't imagine it under 60 million.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Are you kidding me? Basketball is a 5-player, team sport! Why not just go until someone has spelled out H - O - R - S - E ?

lol yes i am kidding you, thats what hockey did after the lockout

 

[3RA1N1AC]

The players aren't going to care if the amnesty comes off of the cap and lux tax so I think they'll agree to it.

owners will want to keep public outcry down against getting under the cap and being essentially forced into spending even more money

 

[BrianFromWA]

the big question to me is this...

If you have 2 amnesties per team and a 45M hard cap, where do those 60 players go? I mean, yeah, I could see Roy going away and Arenas and Rashard Lewis, etc...but if you were, say, the L*kers and you wanted to sign Roy to a 2yr/4M contract he'd be worth it. But everyone's going to be way over the cap.

Even more reason for us to load up on bench players with upside in this draft. Spend 12-15M buying draft picks and moving up, get a starting PG or C , trade Rudy and Batum, and get a few players in the mold of the Morris Twins, Jimmer, Faried, etc. You have them cheaply for 4 years, and since you're not counting on them to be all-stars (like a normal lotto pick's expected to) you can build your depth back and maybe get lucky on someone being a Michael Redd or Rondo or pre-injury Arenas or Ginobili.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

the big question to me is this...

If you have 2 amnesties per team and a 45M hard cap, where do those 60 players go? I mean, yeah, I could see Roy going away and Arenas and Rashard Lewis, etc...but if you were, say, the L*kers and you wanted to sign Roy to a 2yr/4M contract he'd be worth it. But everyone's going to be way over the cap.

Even more reason for us to load up on bench players with upside in this draft. Spend 12-15M buying draft picks and moving up, get a starting PG or C , trade Rudy and Batum, and get a few players in the mold of the Morris Twins, Jimmer, Faried, etc. You have them cheaply for 4 years, and since you're not counting on them to be all-stars (like a normal lotto pick's expected to) you can build your depth back and maybe get lucky on someone being a Michael Redd or Rondo or pre-injury Arenas or Ginobili.

I can't imagine the players going for such a low cap. If so, there would have to be two amnesty players in order to allow teams to get down to the cap. However, I think we'd see the end of the 15 man roster.

 

[Draco]

Would a hard cap be good for Portland? We have Paul Allen which makes you think no but we are also a small market, a less desireable city which makes you think very much yes.

 

[Draco]

I can't imagine the players going for such a low cap.

It's a starting point from the owners, yes the players wouldn't agree to such a low amount.

But maybe a hard cap of $60 million phased in over 3 seasons. Even then teams like the Lakers would be in trouble, Kobe himself is set to make over $30 mil a year. Can you image Kobe being an amnesty cut?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Would a hard cap be good for Portland? We have Paul Allen which makes you think no but we are also a small market, a less desireable city which makes you think very much yes.

Thats pretty much the answer. No and Yes .

No for now. But yes in the long run in the case anything should happen to PA health wise.

 

[Ed O]

Would a hard cap be good for Portland? We have Paul Allen which makes you think no but we are also a small market, a less desireable city which makes you think very much yes.

It would be bad for Portland.

We are able to keep any player that we want to keep. Money is no obstacle.

We are able, as we keep all the players we want to keep, to lure other teams' players (Wes Mathews) away. Money, again, is not an obstacle.

Paul Allen's vast wealth becomes all but meaningless with a hard cap.

I think that it still might be good for the NBA, but it will be bad for the Blazers.

Ed O.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If the players don't like it then they can use their skills for everyday work. I am sure someone with the skill set of Zach Randolph could find work as a dishwasher, or maybe a customer service rep? Then again, it would probably just put a couple hundred criminals out on the street, so I am torn.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It would be bad for Portland.

We are able to keep any player that we want to keep. Money is no obstacle.

We are able, as we keep all the players we want to keep, to lure other teams' players (Wes Mathews) away. Money, again, is not an obstacle.

Paul Allen's vast wealth becomes all but meaningless with a hard cap.

I think that it still might be good for the NBA, but it will be bad for the Blazers.

Ed O.

Ed, do you suppose Nike might be able to be used to influence players to come here? Sort of an alliance between Allen and them.

 

[Ed O]

Ed, do you suppose Nike might be able to be used to influence players to come here? Sort of an alliance between Allen and them.

I guess... but why would Nike care about Paul Allen (in Seattle) or Portland generally? They are an international brand and it seems like they'd rather help the Lakers or the Bulls or the Heat than the Blazers.

Ed O.

 

[LOTBfan]

Millions of kids will still grow up dreaming of playing in the NBA. If a few big names take issue with this and decide to go play in Lithuania so be it. There aren't guarantees in life for the rest of us that we will make the salary of 600 teachers, I think K*be can learn to live with it.

 

[magnifier661]

Oh no the players won't stand for it! Well those players won't get shit unless they agree. If the owners actually play hard ball; especially knowing that many of these owners are wealthy in other areas, they will hold out until the players agree. I think a hard cap of 55 mil is perfect. I like the 2 amnesties, 1 for luxury and the other for cap. I don't see the players being too pissed about that, since actually the players getting the hammer can easily go to another team and make more money.

I wonder if the amnesty might have a clause that if that player signs with another team; whatever amount they are guaranteed is added back on to their cap and the owner will not have to pay that portion. If that's the case, then maybe the players would be a little pissed about it.

 

[MARIS61]

Wow, a $45 million hard cap is VERY low (compared to current team salaries under the current soft cap). Assuming 15 players per roster, that brings the average NBA salary down to $3 million per season, roughly half what it is currently. Even at only 12 per roster, that's an average salary of only $3.75 million. That's a huge pay cut for the players.

If the owners are serious and plan to stick to their guns, I see a VERY long lockout looming. I just don't see the players agreeing to anything close to that.

BNM

A laughable stance for the league to present.

Either they lay down for the players and look stupid, or the players form their own league and put the NBA out of business.

 

[magnifier661]

A laughable stance for the league to present.

Either they lay down for the players and look stupid, or the players form their own league and put the NBA out of business.

Yeah like that is gonna happen! Have you seen the intelligence of about 90% of those NBA players? It would make the XFL look like the best damn sports idea on the planet!