As we speak the NBA’s current salary cap doesn’t allow a contract to exceed a particular figure as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement, otherwise known as the CBA.
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What that number is depends on the previous contract of the said player though there is a limit for every player, no matter how talented they may be. That could possibly change in the future as Brian Windhorst hints LeBron James is pushing for the NBA to completely remove the maximum level contract.
The point? Simply make as much money as possible.
With LeBron pushing for it & Chris Paul as head of union, players could also move for increase or even removal of max contract in 2017 CBA.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) October 6, 2014
Unlike the NFL which has a hard salary cap, the NBA runs a soft salary cap meaning franchises can go above the set number however doing so will result in paying a tax. Most tend to avoid such as the tax becomes quite costly, though you have to think a few would be more willing if the return gift was signing LeBron James or Kevin Durant.
As for LeBron James, removing maximum level contracts would essentially allow him to be paid whatever the franchise could afford. It would obviously set a bad precedent and make an already messy situation even more messy, though it’s unlikely he cares much as all he’s wanting is more money for himself (and fellow players).
It’s difficult to envision the NBA accepting such as they’d be shooting themselves in their foot, so it’s likely the better compromise will be to again raise maximum level salaries instead of completely abolishing the maximum level contract completely.
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