BadBaronRudigor

A way to keep the same total figures of player compensation but to compensate the good players while not overpaying the Jerome James types would be for the players union to negotiate a pay scale. Figure out the percentage of total team revenue that goes to player salary and put that in a league wide pot (with the union having the right to check the books of course). Then distribute to the players on a per minute played basis (regular and playoff). Even though total pay would be the same for both the players and owners, the players would receive the equivalent of an immediate 10% gain in salary because they wouldn't need agents to negotiate their contracts (about 5% of the agents' 15% I would assume you still need to pay for financial management, increased union dues because of the increased responsibility, etc.) As for the owners, the one thing they all claim to hate is negotiations with agents so their pleasure in their teams would be increased; plus, this helps coaches control their teams since players can see their efforts to please the coach rewarded in increased minutes/salary.

To solve issues of (a) star power, (b) injury, and (c) player movement, this pay scale should have the following adjustments.

(a) The all-star team should include the five players voted in by fans (and the votes should be on the backs of tickets so that only fans who attend games should have their votes count - - but that's a separate issue) PLUS one player from each team that didn't have at least two players voted in by fans. This gives the small market/bad teams a way to attract a marketable star who feels that someone else is getting the big money in his city and that he should be the man. Additionally, there should be two more salary doublers . . . League MVP and Finals MVP so a truly great player who wins all three would get EIGHT TIMES mamimum salary based on minutes. This way a Michael Jordan could get the 80 million a year he is worth as clearly the best player in basketball.

(b) Salary should be the greater of this year's calculated salary and 2/3 of last year's salary (for players who played more than 20 minutes a game previous year . . . 1/2 for 10-20 minutes . . . non guaranteed for those with less than 10) and 1/3 of 2 years previously's salary (again, only for players who played more than 20/game 2 years ago). This is base salary without All-Star bonuses, etc. but it keeps an injured player in the multimillionaire category without losing his mortgage, etc.

(c) Finally, salaries should be adjusted for time with a team. The first year with a team (rookies, player moves, etc.) should receive 15% under base pay caluculation. Second year 5% under; third year 5% over, and fourth year 15% over to encourage players to make lasting commitments to a city. However, with that, there should be free movement of any player with at least four years in the league so players can choose their teams (at a financial loss which might be recouped by the All-Star bonus, extra minutes, etc.) and either trading players should be banned or traded players get to keep their time with a club money (if so, call it years without free agency money).

Some food for thought.

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