Ramifications for Team Building under the New CBA

[scott]

While you guys make some good points on some of the negative consequences of the new CBA, I like that it makes viable a few more team building strategies. The Simmons podcast focuses on the two-Superstar model, but I think this new CBA also makes much more viable the Lone Superstar model: building a good team around a true centerpiece like Giannis, Jokic or (hopefully Wemby). Maybe wishful thinking on my part though.

[Mr. Body]

While you guys make some good points on some of the negative consequences of the new CBA, I like that it makes viable a few more team building strategies. The Simmons podcast focuses on the two-Superstar model, but I think this new CBA also makes much more viable the Lone Superstar model: building a good team around a true centerpiece like Giannis, Jokic or (hopefully Wemby). Maybe wishful thinking on my part though.

Simmons can't think outside his deeply biased Boston Celtics box. So he's obsessed with the two star model.

If a team has one great superstar, they will be in great shape. If a team has uncertain stars they max, the Beatles and Walls and that kind of player, they're gonna get crushed.

I see the point to be more judicious with spending. But the problem has always been short term GMs trying to make a splash and keep their bull jobs. In the end it'll be the usual idiot types competing over and overpaying marginal stars.

[scott]

In the construction of any game there is a fine line when creating the rules. Not having restrictive enough rules leads everyone to the same strategy of going to the max on everything. Too strict of rules leads everyone to the same strategy that perfect exploits those strictly defined rules. The best set of rules are the ones that create the notion of economy: where one must make sacrifices and choices, and multiple strategies are viable. Hopefully this CBA results in that.

[spurraider21]

oh no now the championship caliber maybe shouldnt re-sign bruce brown

[poopbox]

I actually don't think the new cba is going to change much. There aren't many teams with 3 max players and the ones that are were capped to anyway. There aren't many teams with two players who would even qualify for a supermax and the ones that are would be capped to in this current cba anyway. As it stands now there are 6 teams above the second apron where it gets really restrictive (lol at the mavs being one of them while being bad enough to get the 10th pick). All of them either just tried to buy their way to a le (warriors, clippers, boston, or just did a bunch of dumb deals, mavs and phoenix).

I guess building a team like the nets would be pretty financially crippling but they won one playoff series. The suns are going to have to move off of Ayton to keep them out of the second apron but the very second they signed him everyone knew they would trade him eventually so that was happening anyway.

I hope the spurs are smart enough to nab a good player or two in free agency on some good deals while everyone thinks the sky is falling. I'd throw a 3 for 63 at Brooke Lopez just to see if the Bucks panic and let him walk.

[RC_Drunkford]

bottom line is the new CBA helps the Spurs since we basically never go into the tax and are likely to never hit that 2nd apron. It also favors team building, a strong supporting cast, player development and having a system so all of it plays into our hands

[CGD]

While you guys make some good points on some of the negative consequences of the new CBA, I like that it makes viable a few more team building strategies. The Simmons podcast focuses on the two-Superstar model, but I think this new CBA also makes much more viable the Lone Superstar model: building a good team around a true centerpiece like Giannis, Jokic or (hopefully Wemby). Maybe wishful thinking on my part though.

The problem in that those “lone star” models you referenced is that they were that way by accident/necessity. The team still paid stupid money to quasi stars, past their prime stars or just good players like Middleton, Holiday, Harden, and Thobias. You see the same starting to happen with Dallas.

I dont see that changing, which is why I think they’ll take it out on the middling/low end players. GMs are generally scared of telling “star” players no for a bunch of reasons. Hopefully the Spurs management continuity and credibility helps them buck that trend in this “player empowerment” era.

[Bruno]

The biggest immediate effect for Spurs is the second tax apron that is estimated at $179.5M for 2023-2024. Being over is quite a big deal and teams might be willing to trade some assets to get under. Spurs' cap space is getting more valuable with this new rule.

For example a trade like Kyle Lowry ($30M in 2023-2024) + #18 for Devonte Graham + #33 could be on the table on draft day for Spurs. Maybe Spurs would need to add a little more but that's the kind of deal this new CBA could generate.

[Spursfanfromafar]

While you guys make some good points on some of the negative consequences of the new CBA, I like that it makes viable a few more team building strategies. The Simmons podcast focuses on the two-Superstar model, but I think this new CBA also makes much more viable the Lone Superstar model: building a good team around a true centerpiece like Giannis, Jokic or (hopefully Wemby). Maybe wishful thinking on my part though.

Yes. I agree. And this spreads the wealth better among all teams instead of star-collusion. With one superstar, there is a neat hierarchy that is possible within any team and there is also more compe iveness. This bodes well for the league.

[CGD]

The biggest immediate effect for Spurs is the second tax apron that is estimated at $179.5M for 2023-2024. Being over is quite a big deal and teams might be willing to trade some assets to get under. Spurs' cap space is getting more valuable with this new rule.

For example a trade like Kyle Lowry ($30M in 2023-2024) + #18 for Devonte Graham + #33 could be on the table on draft day for Spurs. Maybe Spurs would need to add a little more but that's the kind of deal this new CBA could generate.

Thanks for posting. I don’t think we truly have a sense around here of the implications of these new quasi hard cap rules. They’re huge and can lead to some interesting opportunities for the Spurs this summer, draft or otherwise.

[The Truth #6]

Building around stars is likely not going to change with this, in my opinion, just because that’s what the league is all about, but I guess it will have to adapt. I do agree that smaller teams will overpay for mediocre stars, sort of like the Washington wizards model. Basically, bad owners/teams will always find a way to screw up.

[CorrectCrusader]

Also, once the Spurs start winning again, don’t be surprised when they start drafting 22 year olds with low ceilings, but high floors. They will need immediate production from their picks, while at the same time they will be prepared to let them go at the end of their rookie contracts. Of course, they will try to negotiate with them first to take below market contracts…

More Derrick Whites and less Lonnie Walkers

[RC_Drunkford]

the problem for us gonna be the picks/swap rights. If ATL and Boston get their picks frozen the swaps will be useless

[rankingtear]

the problem for us gonna be the picks/swap rights. If ATL and Boston get their picks frozen the swaps will be useless

No it won't. It is way past our picks.

[exstatic]

the problem for us gonna be the picks/swap rights. If ATL and Boston get their picks frozen the swaps will be useless

That pick freeze/push to the end of the round progression won’t start until at least 2029, possibly 2030. It’s the furthest out available pick to trade when the new CBA kicks in. Besides, a swap isn’t considered a FRP trade, or you wouldn’t be able to mix them in with sequential year outright pick trades like we did with ATL.

[ace3g]

[Extra Stout]

This is an important point when considering the salary structure — going forward, teams that fail to reach the salary floor forfeit their luxury tax distributions.

[ace3g]

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
1m
New CBA thing that I haven't seen reported anywhere:

Teams can now dress 15 active players for games. This is up from 13 players in previous years.

[ace3g]

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
14s
Another new CBA thing:

Unused signing exceptions won't begin to prorate in value until the day after the Trade Deadline. Previously, exceptions began to prorate in value on January 10.

[Ariel]

That pick freeze/push to the end of the round progression won’t start until at least 2029, possibly 2030. It’s the furthest out available pick to trade when the new CBA kicks in. Besides, a swap isn’t considered a FRP trade, or you wouldn’t be able to mix them in with sequential year outright pick trades like we did with ATL.

It's still interesting to see how this will be addressed, because if a pick or swap is traded, and later the team that traded the pick falls into the criteria for penalization then it's a third party that pays the consequences, which makes the rule ineffective in disincentivizing the undesired behavior (going above the 2nd apron).

[Seventyniner]

It's still interesting to see how this will be addressed, because if a pick or swap is traded, and later the team that traded the pick falls into the criteria for penalization then it's a third party that pays the consequences, which makes the rule ineffective in disincentivizing the desired behavior (staying below the 2nd apron).

That's a great point. If an owner decides to just flip the middle finger at the second apron they can basically trade away swaps for free. Eventually other GMs will realize this and internally devalue those swaps, but it will be too late for the first wave.