Remove Salary Cap

[rice_web]

Is it fair to think that fans by and large come to a game to see just one or two franchise players? I think so; just watch the Kevin Garnett situation in Minnesota to get an idea of how important a single player can be to defining a franchise. At the very least, fans like to watch a player or a group of players for more than just ten games only to watch them bolt overseas as quickly as they can.

See what I'm thinking, is that a lot of guys aren't cut out for the NBA. They're too short, too slow, or too thin. But they might have a beautiful, consistent shot and moves that wow. Yet, it seems that the CBA cannot, with its salary cap restrictions, sign that standout player. He's left to make something of his marketing degree or play overseas. But if each team had one or two of these great players, earning, say, fifty- to one-hundred-thousand dollars a season, surely they could keep them on board and also give the fans something to look forward to, game in and game out. It might also bring back some prestige to the league.

But could that even work fiscally? I'm inclined to think so, for if teams had the responsibility to only sign one or two great players, their expenses wouldn't rise considerably, and at the same time, attendance should likely graduate game after game, as fans get excited about a player with real talent. I'd have to think it'd at least beat this ridiculous decline ever since Isiah took over, no?

[heavesrock]

Not a bad idea mate.

[FrozenUpHere]

I think this is a good idea for an established league with established teams... but not the CBA in its form now. It’s safe to say this league is in organized chaos right now, and with 2 or more expansion teams coming in every year and 2 or more bankrupt or bankrupt equivalent teams folding or moving every year it’s not the time to further separate the gap between new teams and established teams. It’s a great path to look at down the road when teams have settled down, just not anytime soon.

[rice_web]

I'm suggesting, however, that the CBA might not be able to achieve stability without players than fans recognize from top division-one schools and unless those players stick around for more than a season.

At present, there's very little fan or player confidence, and of course the aim needs to be to finish out this season. But there may well not be a second or a third season of this new CBA unless the fans find something they like.

[Pounder]

By definition, it's a league that those well-known souls want to advance from. There will always be a level of instability with that setup.

I also think that there's experience via the pre-Isiah CBA. There were names out there, and teams folded anyway. There is no guarantee that big names will change attendance.

College basketball is not hyped enough anymore to make minor leagues viable on name recognition, in all reality. If people aren't following anything but March Madness (and outside the Research Triangle, that's what the ratings show), they're probably not taking names and making notes.

[bectond]

I used to think the same thing, higher pay would = player stability.
However, I no longer feel that way. Why start a bidding war and price yourself out of the market. $1250 a week should be the max and $500 a week should be the min. To me playing in far out locations for low pay proves just how much a player wants to be in the NBA.

[kg21obf]

What do cba players earn?

[bectond]

What do cba players earn?

500-1000 per week plus $30 a day meal money on the road and housing.

[psbf]

I'm in favor of a salary cap because I don't want things to get as bad as the NBA(not that they would). Travel, lodging, meals and enough to live on should be enough. Oh and plus whatever rent the teams need to cover their home facilities. Unless I missed anything else, beyond that I would consider to be an unneccesary luxury gift.

[kg21obf]

THat seems like alot. 16 weeks X 11 players at 750 per week + $132,000

Plus hotel for the year (The Clarion in Beautiful Yakima). Travel expenses
Teams that draw 1200X 24 dates @ 12.00 avg ticket = $350,000.
That My friends aint payin the bills. Sorry for the crude math

[psbf]

It all adds up. Remember, we're talking the cost of a team, not just one person. A number of hotel rooms, the cost for a bus/plane, meals, etc.. How many are on a team roster? Figure that into the pricing.

[psbf]

Call me paranoid, but looking at the fact that I've finished the topics in most threads makes me feel non-existant here. I was hoping to add to the conversations, not stop it. Everyone has a right to their opinion.

[bdaly]

I'd keep the salary keep. With the NBA really making the D-League its developmental league, I think removing the cap could create a bad situation. You don't want the CBA to be basketball's IHL--they tried to make it an alternative to the NHL, but ultimately salaries got too lofty and it went under. I'm worried about MLS too--we all remember what happened to the NASL when they let there be exception.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Call me paranoid, but looking at the fact that I've finished the topics in most threads makes me feel non-existant here. I was hoping to add to the conversations, not stop it. Everyone has a right to their opinion.

That's funny, but kinda true. You usually chide others for knocking Pittsburgh because they don't live there. Yeah, that approach can stop a conversation cold.

Back to the topic:
Minor league hoops needs to find a way to make attending a basketball game fun for the average fan--AND FAST! Forget raising the salary cap. Expenses are high enough. The average minor league fan does not care about star power.

Back to Pittsburgh:
Why on earth would anyone want to spend good money to see the Xplosion when they could hang-out with coeds at a Pitt game? I mean, why would someone other than a hardcore basketball fan?

From the For What It's Worth department:
I tend to stop discussions in their tracks too. Why? Because for some odd reason I seem to be right almost all of the time...and I also seem to be a bit obnoxious (which is another story). How IS Apex doing, BTW?

[bectond]

THat seems like alot. 16 weeks X 11 players at 750 per week + $132,000

Plus hotel for the year (The Clarion in Beautiful Yakima). Travel expenses
Teams that draw 1200X 24 dates @ 12.00 avg ticket = $350,000.
That My friends aint payin the bills. Sorry for the crude math

If a CBA team announces 1200 that really means about 900 paid. Many CBA rosters also shrink after Mid-January with the Top salaried players going elsewhere. Example: Sioux Falls played with 7 guys for most of the second half last year after some Call-ups.(It's wise to sign as many good players as you can in November just to sell them off to European or NBA teams) I think most if not all teams keep their salaries below $120,000 for the year.

[psbf]

Why would anyone want to spend good money on the Xplosion, Ken? Maybe because we love our team! Someone like you only sees the record of the Xplosion and not the players on it. Someone like you would rather see a winner or not have a team at all. Unlike you, I'm glad we have a team, regardless of our record. Some of us(in Pgh) want another choice besides the Pirates, Steelers and Pens. Some of us feel that the Xplosion will improve with our new coach(maybe you have not heard about him?).

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Call me paranoid, but looking at the fact that I've finished the topics in most threads makes me feel non-existant here. I was hoping to add to the conversations, not stop it. Everyone has a right to their opinion.

See, you killed-off another thread. How do you expect someone to respond to your post above? However, I'll try...

Who is this "we" and "us" you're speaking of? There isn't much evidence to support your claims that a metropolitan area the size of Pittsburgh's metro area wants the Xplosion.

Yeah, I know about Coach Jaren Jackson. He was given the time and money to assemble NBA and NBADL type talent last year with Gary. What was he given in Pittsburgh? A coach is only as good as the people around him.