Saving the Suns: a case for salary cap reform

The Phoenix Suns are finally seeing the light at the end of a long rebuild, but they’re surrounded by superteams. It’s time to change the cap rules.

The Suns should be absolutely thrilled by the team they’ve assembled. With assets in their back pocket, good young players on the roster, and future cap space still in tact, Phoenix basketball is finally starting to inspire some hope.

But it’s easy to overlook all of that with just a quick look around the Pacific division. Golden State is still doing Golden State things. DeMarcus Cousins just signed for the veterans minimum, meaning the team now has five active All-Stars to go along with a deep bench.

Then in Los Angeles, everyone suddenly has to be a Laker. LeBron James made the move all by himself and has subsequently been given one of the most laughable supporting casts in league history. Kawhi Leonard continues to insist he only wants to be in LA. How is the rest of the league supposed to compete when all the best players only want to play in California?

This is the problem with the NBA. It’s not tanking teams like the Suns, as commissioner Adam Silver continues to posit. The lack of competitiveness comes from league rules that don’t just allow but encourage the formation and preservation of superteams. It’s time to make some serious changes.

For the Suns to be competitive, the league must find a way to create parity and give everyone a fair chance. That means rules that split up All-NBA players and dilute talent throughout all 30 teams. The two changes we’re about to look at would go a long way toward helping the Phoenix Suns get a fair chance.