Phoenix Suns: Saving the Suns: a case for salary cap reform

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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 06: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers is fouled by TJ Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns as he drives to the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center on February 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Abolish max contracts

The first change the NBA needs to make is to abolish max contracts. They’re not only bad for the league, but they also make no sense to begin with.

LeBron James is on a 35 percent max contract. But his value is pretty clearly more than 35 percent of his team, and if someone wanted to offer him 80 percent of the cap, they should be able to do so. That would be too much money to turn down, and it would prevent him from teaming up with other top players.

The same can be said about Golden State. Kevin Durant might be willing to take $5 million less to keep Andre Iguodala around, but he won’t pass up a $70 million deal. As should be the case, that team could never stick together with each of them being offered massive contracts.

The idea of a max contract is also silly because it equates players with vastly different values. LeBron James and Paul George aren’t even similar in terms of value to a team, but both are on max deals. This is why the league has turned into a superstar league. So many players have the same contract, but only a few players give maximum value at that salary.

By getting rid of these pointless max deals, the superteams will be forced to break up, and the Phoenix Suns will finally get a fair chance in their own division.

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