Is the NBA inching toward parity? Or slowly sinking into mediocrity? Those may seem like strange questions during a season in which the Golden State Warriors have imposed their dominance over the rest of the league in unprecedented fashion. Yes, at 22-0 the Warriors have obliterated the best start in NBA history and have looked downright unbeatable while the clock was ticking during a vast majority of those 22 games. In that sense, they present a very strong argument against the notion
The salary cap rose to $70 million for the 2015-16 season, an increase of 11 percent and nearly $7 million from a year ago, the NBA announced Wednesday night. The cap for next season originally was projected around $67.1 million. Shortly before free agency began, however, CBS Sports reported that the number would be at least $1 million higher and perhaps as much as $2 million higher. In fact, it is $3 million higher, the sort of anecdotal information that will
Twenty teams already are into their offseason and will be joined by two more this weekend. That means those teams already are looking at a free agent market that will be the last as we have come to know it. The projected salary cap for teams this summer is $67.1 million with a projected tax line of $81.6 million. The cap is rising more than 6 percent from last summer’s $63.065 million, which is actually a smaller increase than the jump
Hours before the moratorium period ended and free agency began Wednesday, the NBA released its financial figures for the 2014-15 season. We have taken those figures and – with the help of folks like Larry Coon and Mark Deeks – have laid out the amounts for all of the exceptions and maximum salaries available to players this season. TEAM SALARY The salary cap will be $63.065 million. That is slightly lower than published projections but still represents a 7.5 percent increase over last season’s $58.679
Mitch Kupchak shouldn’t be playing hardball. In his desire to trade Pau Gasol, the GM of the Los Angeles Lakers should not have insisted on receiving Dion Waiters or a first-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nobody has overpaid for a rental since Ernie Grunfeld sent Ray Allen to Seattle for Gary Payton — and that was a long time ago. Kupchak should have lowered his demands to match the team’s expectations. The Lakers are done for this season and should be
The Pau Gasol-for-Andrew Bynum trade talks appear to be dormant but not dead. The Lakers would like to get another worthy asset thrown into in the deal … but so would the Cavs. And you know what? I have to side with the Cavs and general manager Chris Grant on this one. By taking Gasol’s $19.3 million salary off the Lakers’ books, they will drop Los Angels below the luxury tax threshold, saving the Buss family in the area of $20 million.
This summer, when your favorite team’s owner or GM tells you a certain player is financially out of reach, here’s how you know he is lying. His lips are moving. NBA business is booming, folks. And not just for the so-called big markets. Take a quick look at the conference finals, which feature four teams from middle to small markets collecting millions for every home playoff game. Take a look at the Sacramento Kings, who were just sold for a record $525 million
SheridanHoopsRadio is back after a week-long vacation. Hosts Brian Geltzeiler and Tommy Dee were joined by CBS Sports’ NBA Columnist Ken Berger and SheridanHoops’ own Chris Bernucca. They’ed talked about the top 10 free agents in the upcoming offseason, Mark Cuban’s amnesty comment, and more. [Read more…]