The National Basketball Association today announced that the Salary Cap for the 2012-13 season will be $58.044 million. The tax level for the 2012-13 season has been set at $70.307 million. Any team whose team salary exceeds that figure will pay a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $70.307 million. The Salary Cap and tax level, both of which are unchanged from 2011-12 amounts, go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 11, when the league's "moratorium period" ends and teams can begin signing free agents and making trades. The minimum team salary, which is set at 85% of the Salary Cap, is $49.337 million for the 2012-13 season. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement provides for three different mid-level exceptions depending on a team's salary level. The non-taxpayer mid-level for this season is $5.0 million, the taxpayer mid-level is $3.09 million and the mid-level for a team with room under the Salary Cap is $2.575 million. http://www.blazersedge.com/2012/7/10/3150500/nba-releases-2012-13-salary-cap-luxury-tax-numbers
What a farce. A crappy team like Portland doesn't have enough cap space to rebuild, but a super team like Miami can still afford to sign Ray Allen. Welcome to Stern's rabbit hole - enjoy your stay!
I see this as less of a function of Stern and more of an owner unwilling to pay nearly $90 million in salary next year. Had it not been for Lebron, Miami might still be mired with a bad team circa 2007-2009. As it stands, Portland has roughly half of that in current contracts. With Roy's amnestied amount coming down by whatever Minny is paying him, the total salary is less. PA can pay his way into contention again if he wants - but all things point to that not happening again. Am I wrong?
Max contracts went up 5.8% according to Larry Coon even though cap stayed the same. Some wondered how Blazies could offer 58mil.
