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SPORTSSaturday 18 July 2015
Dollars and sense: In the NBA, money is exploding
TIM REYNOLDS In this March 8, 2015, file photo, Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) drives to the basket check moving close to
AP Basketball Writer against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Auburn Hills, Mich. half a billion dollars to the
LAS VEGAS (AP) — To un- players association,” Silver
derstand how the business Associated Press said. “That’s not of course
model of NBA salaries is un- the ideal outcome from
like ever before, consider players are reaping ben- our standpoint. ... It’s hap-
the cases of Reggie Jack- efits. Under the current pened because the rev-
son, Khris Middleton, and CBA, player salaries are enue we generated was
DeMarre Carroll. supposed to make up much higher than we had
They’re not All-Stars. about 50.4 percent of the ever modeled. But we’re
They’re not household league’s basketball-relat- also learning that when
names, either. ed income. This past sea- you have all that money
Nonetheless, the trio got a son, income grew more coming into the system,
combined $210 million in team behavior isn’t neces-
deals this summer: Jack- In this April 23, 2015, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middle- sarily predictable either.”
son got $80 million over five ton reacts during Game 3 of the NBA basketball playoffs against The numbers right now are
years from the Detroit Pis- the Chicago Bulls in Milwaukee. huge, which is giving some
tons, Middleton a five-year, within the game hope that
$70 million deal to stay with Associated Press the league and the union
the Milwaukee Bucks, and — which can opt out of the
Carroll a four-year contract salary cap for this com- “I’m getting the same as In this Nov. 7, 2014, file photo, CBA in two years — can
worth nearly $60 million to ing season was supposed Reggie Jackson,” he la- Atlanta Hawks’ DeMarre Car- avoid any more interrup-
join the Toronto Raptors. to rise considerably to $67 mented, as quoted by CSN roll, center, drives between tions in play.
Only a couple of years million; it went even higher, Washington. Charlotte Hornets’ Lance Ste- Anthony Davis was locked
ago, such deals would to $70 million. The salary Wall, a two-time All-Star, is phenson, right, and Al Jeffer- up by the New Orleans Pel-
have been considered cap for the 2016-17 season going into the second year son, left, during the first half of icans for $145 million over
baffling. These days, they might be $90 million. For of a five-year, $85 million an NBA basketball game in the next five years. LeBron
seem quite fair. the season after that, may- deal. Jackson cashed in Charlotte, N.C. James of the Cleveland
“The numbers you hear out be $110 million or more. after averaging nearly 18 Cavaliers will make $23 mil-
there, they seem crazy to These days, players that points in 27 games with De- Associated Press lion this season; he could
think about,” Miami Heat might not have been con- troit last season, a breakout earn more than $30 million
center Hassan Whiteside sidered stars are getting that followed 3 1/2 seasons than anticipated, and that in 2016-17 if he, as would
said. what would recently have of largely unheralded work. meant the league wrote a seem likely, opts out once
Thanks to a $24 billion tele- been star-level deals. John “That new (collective bar- check to the National Bas- again.
vision deal that kicks in be- Wall — one of the league’s gaining agreement) kicked ketball Players Association Next summer, Kevin Du-
fore the 2016-17 season, elite point guards — of the in at the right time,” Wall to cover the difference — rant of the Oklahoma City
already skyrocketing sala- Washington Wizards aired said. roughly $57 million. Thunder is the expected
ries will soon reach a new his complaints this week. Sure, but it seems like all Silver thinks that might look headliner of the free-agent
stratosphere. It’s hard to like peanuts next year. class, and his contract
fathom that a league that “We could be writing a could easily set records.
dealt with serious labor Just think what Stephen
strife four years ago and Curry — the league MVP
might be looking at an- and leader of the NBA
other work stoppage in a champion Golden State
couple of years is about to Warriors — will make when
become flush with so much he’s a free agent again in
cash. 2017.
“One of the things we’re Some scoffed when he
learning is that there is so signed a $44 million, four-
much that’s unpredictable year deal in 2013. Curry
when the cap is moving so seems like the biggest bar-
dramatically as it did — as gain in the game now.
it will next year, and the “I’ve never seen anything
year after that,” NBA Com- like it,” New York Knicks
missioner Adam Silver said. general manager Steve
“We’re continuing to study Mills said, when asked
how our system is absorb- about how contract values
ing the money.” keep soaring. “Obviously,
Despite all the contract it changes what happens
riches, Silver offers a ma- with the league.”
jor word of caution — the The growth has been
NBA still insists that plenty of steady in recent years,
teams are losing money. though now the climb
“A significant number of seems to be much steeper.
teams are continuing to In 2011, the average annu-
lose money and they con- al value of new free-agent
tinue to lose money be- contracts was about $5
cause their expenses ex- million. So far this year, it’s
ceed their revenue,” Silver flirting with the $10 million
said. mark.
And yet to many, the riches Whiteside will make just un-
seem richer than ever. The der $1 million this season. q
