Free Agency Rule Change?

[Eddie20]

Is this going to cause the NBA, and more specifically David Stern, to change the rules in terms of free agency? Because this could very well become the modern day blue print on how to transform your team and win. This year there were several teams that cleaned house to have a chance at top players and I could only see that increasing in the years to come. Ultimately, this will hurt the small market teams (like a Clev. or Toronto) and the major market will continue to feast on their losses. Because let's face it, stars aren't going to unite in Memphis, Minny, Utah, etc. Maybe a resolution would be to increase cap holds, or something with similar impact, in order to prevent this to be a reoccurring theme.

[MR.BOMB]

I agree as well. (better for the league for teams to be able to keep their own players)

All these rules surrounding Free Agency, trades and the CAP are silly!
What other league trades all stars for expiring contracts??

[TheTruth34]

The NBA probably should consider giving teams the ability to designate a player with a franchise tag, similar to the NFL. Make the cost 2 or 3 first-round picks for another team to sign a player with this designation.  I'd doubt they could get the players association to agree to this in the upcoming labor negotiation.  But it certainly should be discussed.  With endorsement money being what it is these days, the Larry Bird exception has a diminished impact on team's ability to retain free agents.

[Who]

I don't think anything needs to be changed and I don't think it hurts small market teams.

It puts more pressure on teams to have sound long term plans in place for their star players. To keep them in winning situations in order to avoid losing them.

It's equally dangerous to both small and large market clubs.

[Who]

The teams that hold the players bird rights already have enough advantages with the sixth season + larger annual raises.

And teams can make young players restricted free agents when coming off of their rookie deals.

More than enough cover for teams to keep their star players.

[Greenbean]

The NBA probably should consider giving teams the ability to designate a player with a franchise tag, similar to the NFL. Make the cost 2 or 3 first-round picks for another team to sign a player with this designation.  I'd doubt they could get the players association to agree to this in the upcoming labor negotiation.  But it certainly should be discussed.  With endorsement money being what it is these days, the Larry Bird exception has a diminished impact on team's ability to retain free agents.

Interesting idea but in the NBA 2 or 3 first round picks can cripple a franchise. Just look at Minny.

A first and a second would do it.

[the_Bird]

Anyone heard what the owners are looking to accomplish in the new CBA?  An NFL-style hard cap would make situations like Miami's harder to pull off, since they will ultimately have to stretch out the total team payroll beyond the cap (and probably beyond the luxury tax) over the years.  If you knew that you absolutely could not spend more than $60M, total,  you'd be less likely to commit to spending $50M on three guys.  

Miami knows that over time, they can make bring their total salary up to wherever it needs to be by using their exemptions in future years, taking back more salary in trades, etc.

[rkls134]

The NBA probably should consider giving teams the ability to designate a player with a franchise tag, similar to the NFL. Make the cost 2 or 3 first-round picks for another team to sign a player with this designation.  I'd doubt they could get the players association to agree to this in the upcoming labor negotiation.  But it certainly should be discussed.  With endorsement money being what it is these days, the Larry Bird exception has a diminished impact on team's ability to retain free agents.

A franchise tag wouldn't stop teams from going after players like Lebron, they would gladly give up a couple picks for him in addition to the $$.

Miami is not a major market, they just had a major star and GM that other stars wanted to play with/for.

After listening to sports talk radio all night, and hearing all the crying and complaining about how the owners SHOULD lock the the players out and demand change, proves to me that fans just as much as owners and players, don't get "it".

If people think players are going to accept working for peanuts in a multi billion dollar industry, like most Americans do in their respective industries, they're delusional.

There will not be a slave system enacted over this, where the players have no rights and no freedom to play where they would like, but the system does need to be tweaked.

The Larry bird rule is designed to help teams keep their players, I don't know how you think it hurts their chances of doing so? Incompetent management kills their chances to do so.

[Eddie20]

The NBA probably should consider giving teams the ability to designate a player with a franchise tag, similar to the NFL. Make the cost 2 or 3 first-round picks for another team to sign a player with this designation.  I'd doubt they could get the players association to agree to this in the upcoming labor negotiation.  But it certainly should be discussed.  With endorsement money being what it is these days, the Larry Bird exception has a diminished impact on team's ability to retain free agents.

Miami is not a major market, they just had a major star and GM that other stars wanted to play with/for.

Miami may not be a major market by definition, but make no mistake that it's a highly attractive destination for reasons other than a 65 year old GM and a major star. By your theory, then Toronto or Cleveland would've had as good a chance as Miami to land the three players if they had Riley and the available cap space. The reality is that just isn't the case, and there is a reason why Bosh had absolutely no interest in joining James in Cleveland. And it has nothing to with anything basketball related.

[libermaniac]

Anyone heard what the owners are looking to accomplish in the new CBA?  An NFL-style hard cap would make situations like Miami's harder to pull off, since they will ultimately have to stretch out the total team payroll beyond the cap (and probably beyond the luxury tax) over the years.  If you knew that you absolutely could not spend more than $60M, total,  you'd be less likely to commit to spending $50M on three guys.  

Miami knows that over time, they can make bring their total salary up to wherever it needs to be by using their exemptions in future years, taking back more salary in trades, etc.

Exactly, TP.  The 8 pages of rules related to the NBA salary cap remind me of a fantasy league where people keep discovering loopholes to rules, and they keep adding more to cover them.  Single, hard cap.  Plain and simple.

[libermaniac]

The Larry bird rule is designed to help teams keep their players, I don't know how you think it hurts their chances of doing so? Incompetent management kills their chances to do so.

Ya, I don't have a problem with the Cavs losing LeBron.  I have a problem with Miami's plan to success being to gut their team of any contract and then to attract 2 other stars.  It highlights the fact that the NBA is not as much a team sport as it's made out to be ... it's a star dominated league and if you have 3 of the best, you can put any NBA replacement player around them, and odds are they'll win it next year or the year after.  Just a shame and not good for the sport.

[rkls134]

The NBA probably should consider giving teams the ability to designate a player with a franchise tag, similar to the NFL. Make the cost 2 or 3 first-round picks for another team to sign a player with this designation.  I'd doubt they could get the players association to agree to this in the upcoming labor negotiation.  But it certainly should be discussed.  With endorsement money being what it is these days, the Larry Bird exception has a diminished impact on team's ability to retain free agents.

Miami is not a major market, they just had a major star and GM that other stars wanted to play with/for.

Miami may not be a major market by definition, but make no mistake that it's a highly attractive destination for reasons other than a 65 year old GM and a major star. By your theory, then Toronto or Cleveland would've had as good a chance as Miami to land the three players if they had Riley and the available cap space. The reality is that just isn't the case, and there is a reason why Bosh had absolutely no interest in joining James in Cleveland. And it has nothing to with anything basketball related.

I didn't say Miami wasn't attractive to players(no income tax, the weather, gorgeous women etc.), I said it wasn't a major market, particularly in the sports world.

I think it was Lebatard on PTI yesterday that said, now the people have to show up on time, and stay for whole game.

[rkls134]

The Larry bird rule is designed to help teams keep their players, I don't know how you think it hurts their chances of doing so? Incompetent management kills their chances to do so.

Ya, I don't have a problem with the Cavs losing LeBron.  I have a problem with Miami's plan to success being to gut their team of any contract and then to attract 2 other stars.  It highlights the fact that the NBA is not as much a team sport as it's made out to be ... it's a star dominated league and if you have 3 of the best, you can put any NBA replacement player around them, and odds are they'll win it next year or the year after.  Just a shame and not good for the sport.

It it a star dominated league not by plan but by nature. It's the only team sport where 1 or 2 players of a Lebron or Kobe stature can make the difference between winning it all and the lottery. There is really nothing that can be done about it.

A QB in the NFL can't do it by himself, he need s an O-line, recievers, good backs, a solid D. One hockey player can't do it by himself. One pitcher or hitter can't. In basketball that 1 big time player can make all the difference. Look at at Cleveland now, Miami before Wade.

[action781]

The NBA probably should consider giving teams the ability to designate a player with a franchise tag, similar to the NFL. Make the cost 2 or 3 first-round picks for another team to sign a player with this designation.  I'd doubt they could get the players association to agree to this in the upcoming labor negotiation.  But it certainly should be discussed.  With endorsement money being what it is these days, the Larry Bird exception has a diminished impact on team's ability to retain free agents.

Miami is not a major market, they just had a major star and GM that other stars wanted to play with/for.

Can you define what a major market is?  I always considered Miami to be one. 

[rkls134]

The NBA probably should consider giving teams the ability to designate a player with a franchise tag, similar to the NFL. Make the cost 2 or 3 first-round picks for another team to sign a player with this designation.  I'd doubt they could get the players association to agree to this in the upcoming labor negotiation.  But it certainly should be discussed.  With endorsement money being what it is these days, the Larry Bird exception has a diminished impact on team's ability to retain free agents.

Miami is not a major market, they just had a major star and GM that other stars wanted to play with/for.

Can you define what a major market is?  I always considered Miami to be one. 

I'm not an expert on what makes a market major, but I would assume TV ratings and how the population supports the teams are factored in. Miami is notorious for not really caring about it's teams except for the Dolphins. Just like Atlanta, major City, not a major market.