Owners' CBA proposal detailed: $45 million hard cap

[Donoghus]

If people think the NFL labor situation is bad, wait 'til they see what happens with this.

It's gonna get real bad. 

[JT11]

If there's a lockout for a year, what does it mean for the C's contracts that end in the 2012 season?

[LooseCannon]

Wow.  I knew the owners were going to be aggressive, but I didn't think they'd be *that* aggressive.  I can't imagine a scenario where the players agree to anything close to that without a long lockout.

I'm actually not surprised.  I really felt that the hardcore union-busting the governor of Wisconsin has been trying to do was a signal that there's going to be a full-court press against unions in all sectors.

I sincerely believe that there is an ideological component to this labor fight and that some owners may place winning above the good of the league or their own profits.  So, I am pessimistic about the season starting on time.

[Arok325]

Wow.  I knew the owners were going to be aggressive, but I didn't think they'd be *that* aggressive.  I can't imagine a scenario where the players agree to anything close to that without a long lockout.

I'm actually not surprised.  I really felt that the hardcore union-busting the governor of Wisconsin has been trying to do was a signal that there's going to be a full-court press against unions in all sectors.

I sincerely believe that there is an ideological component to this labor fight and that some owners may place winning above the good of the league or their own profits.  So, I am pessimistic about the season starting on time.

I think you're missing the point. None of the owners are placing winning above profits. It's the exact reason they made these proposals.

I know we all want to watch NBA basketball next season but it's really not our decision to make. The NBA is private organization and they have the right to do whatever they please. I sincerely hope they crack the union because like you mentioned I think this was somewhat foreshadowed by the Wisconsin events.

[Roy H.]

I sincerely believe that there is an ideological component to this labor fight and that some owners may place winning above the good of the league or their own profits.  So, I am pessimistic about the season starting on time.

You may be right, although I'm skeptical that all the owners speak with the same ideological voice.  For instance, Herb Kohl owns the Bucks, and he's a liberal Democrat.  My guess is that the owners care about their businesses, rather than taking part in a perceived nationwide trend.

[LarBrd33]

Am I the only one who dislikes the idea of a hard cap?  I can see it being a great thing if you are a fan of the Kings or the bobcats, but we are rooting for the Boston Celtics.  The Celtics are a profitable team and we have owners who are willing to spend for a good team.  I don't understand why everyone loves the idea of parity.  Am I the only one who thinks it's kinda lame that the NFL seems to have a different superbowl winner every year?   MLB takes it a bit TOO far where teams like the Yankees will always be able to spend money and win while other teams will never have teh budget to compete... but the soft cap in the NBA has the right balance, in my opinion.

How does this even work unless they are planning to completely restructure existing max deals?  in 2012-13, Bosh, Wade and Bron each make 17 mil.  The year after that 19 mil... the year after that 20 mil... after that 22 mil.   How are you going to have a hard cap of 45 mil if you have 3 players making a combined 66 million?  Does this 3 year "phasing" allow them a grandfather period of destroying the league until they all opt out using player options for more cap-friendly deals?   Garbage.


Wasn't our payroll over 80 million this year?  The Big 3 combined made 43 million.  If there had been a hard cap that would mean that the celtics would have been forced to say, "you know what... sorry Rondo... we love you, but we only have 2 million dollars to fill out the rest of our roster... have fun playing elsewhere"

Hard cap will just lead to additional player movement and loss of fan interest.

[LarBrd33]

Really though this is kinda like seeing a 52 inch LED LCD on craigslist and sending an email saying, "Hey... I'll give you 20 bucks for it" and waiting for the counter offer.  What the NBA is asking for right now is absurd.

[Arok325]

Am I the only one who dislikes the idea of a hard cap?  I can see it being a great thing if you are a fan of the Kings or the bobcats, but we are rooting for the Boston Celtics.  The Celtics are a profitable team and we have owners who are willing to spend for a good team.  I don't understand why everyone loves the idea of parity.  Am I the only one who thinks it's kinda lame that the NFL seems to have a different superbowl winner every year?   MLB takes it a bit TOO far where teams like the Yankees will always be able to spend money and win while other teams will never have teh budget to compete... but the soft cap in the NBA has the right balance, in my opinion.

How does this even work unless they are planning to completely restructure existing max deals?  in 2012-13, Bosh, Wade and Bron each make 17 mil.  The year after that 19 mil... the year after that 20 mil... after that 22 mil.   How are you going to have a hard cap of 45 mil if you have 3 players making a combined 66 million?  Does this 3 year "phasing" allow them a grandfather period of destroying the league until they all opt out using player options for more cap-friendly deals?   Garbage.


Wasn't our payroll over 80 million this year?  The Big 3 combined made 43 million.  If there had been a hard cap that would mean that the celtics would have been forced to say, "you know what... sorry Rondo... we love you, but we only have 2 million dollars to fill out the rest of our roster... have fun playing elsewhere"

Hard cap will just lead to additional player movement and loss of fan interest.

They proposed rolling back existing contracts a bit meaning that they're going to cut back on existing player salaries. I think this is a fair compromise. There's no doubt that certain players are going to get screwed but that's just the way the cookie crumbles. The owners are taking a hard stand against players and honestly they have every right to pursue their own interests.

If they don't want to pay players as much as they've been paying them then they should continue to do exactly what they're doing. It's a lot like bidding on a house. They seller proposes something above market value and the two end up compromising at some point. In this case, the league can afford to set the bar high in this round of negotiations. Sure they won't get everything they want but they'll end up with more than if they conceded right out of the gate.

[LarBrd33]

hard cap is all fun and games until you're a fan of a winning team who can't re-sign one of its stars.  The bird rights were created for a reason... had there been a hard cap in the 80s, The Celtics wouldn't have been able to keep Larry Bird in Celtic green.

I don't see how the hard cap does anything other than increase player turnover.  

You ever try to build a dynasty with a hard cap?  I've been playing "Out of the Park Baseball 2011" and trying to win the World Series as the Pittsburgh Pirates despite the fact my cheap owner only gives me 40 million budgeted for player contracts.  Here's what ends up happening... every few years I have to trade my superstar players for young prospects before they hit free agency... then the young players develop into superstars and I have to trade them for young prospects before they hit free agency... and then those young prospects develop and I have to trade them for young prospects.   It's a vicious cycle.  I've won 5 World Series in 10 years, but my fanbase is pretty apathetic towards the team... they are disgusted that I keep trading their favorite players.  5 World Series in 10 years and fan interest is at "average".  Lol.  It'd be like if the Celtics won the title with KG and Pierce.. and then immediately traded them for Kevin Durant and Kevin Love on rookie contracts... then a few years later won another title, but prior to them hitting free agency had to trade Durant and Love for Blake Griffin and John Wall on rookie contracts... then a few years later had to trade Wall and Griffin for two new players on rookie contracts... etc

[Redz]

uggh

[Redz]

 It'd be like if the Celtics won the title with KG and Pierce.. and then immediately traded them for Kevin Durant and Kevin Love on rookie contracts... then a few years later won another title, but prior to them hitting free agency had to trade Durant and Love for Blake Griffin and John Wall on rookie contracts... then a few years later had to trade Wall and Griffin for two new players on rookie contracts... etc

and that's if you're lucky

[RJ87]

It's going to be a looooonnnnggg offseason .

[rondohondo]

It's going to be a looooonnnnggg offseason .

Could be a blessing for the C's old legs, unless they have them playing like 4 games a week to make up for lost time when they come back.

[RJ87]

It's going to be a looooonnnnggg offseason .

Could be a blessing for the C's old legs, unless they have them playing like 4 games a week to make up for lost time when they come back.

With the how far apart the sides are, I'm starting to doubt there will even be a 2011/12 season at all.... See you boys in the Summer of 2012 (of hopefully, the Summer of D12).

[JoT]

So I just figured out what the cap actually meant. This will be an interesting topic going into the off season. That will hurt a lot of teams and players especially Kobe and Lebron and his gang. They make either half or more than that cap. And I don't see the players especially the ones I mentioned giving up their yearly salaries to fit into that cap. This will benefit the small market teams, but the teams with owners willing to pay above that cap and the teams that bring in a lot of revenue (such as the Celtics) this will hurt more. I just don't see them giving up their pay at all.

These players especially the young ones better get their finances together and prepare for the lockout to live comfortably. I don't worry about the vets (well some), but these players especially young players need to get it together.