The NBA offseason has offered big moves and big surprises so far. However, the biggest surprise had to come when Jalen Brunson decided to take a $113 million pay cut. Brunson was previously on a four-year deal worth $104 million deal. Suppose Brunson had waited next year to sign an extension. He would have been eligible for a five-year, $269 million deal. Nevertheless, Jalen Brunson took a pay cut to help the team financially by signing a four-year contract extension worth $156.5 million.
This move sent shockwaves throughout the league, and could more stars follow a similar path. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Mikal Bridges is also expected to take a pay cut to stay with the New York Knicks. LeBron James even took a small pay cut to help the Los Angeles Lakers stay below the second apron. His pay cut was not nearly as much as Brunson’s was but still chose to help the team. Today, we are going to look at why more stars should take a pay cut to help their team.
Why More Stars Should Follow Jalen Brunson in Taking a Pay Cut
The New TV and CBA Deal
The NBA has just signed a new TV deal for an 11-year, $76 billion contract package with five networks. The five networks consist of ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video. With this new TV deal, the NBA will increase there revenue during the basketball season. This will also potentially make the year-to-year salary cap increase even higher. To go along with that, the new CBA deal added the first apron and second apron rules. If your team is in one of those, especially the second apron. The restrictions on your team are harsh.
With both of these deals, players are going to be allowed to make more money than they ever had before. However, more teams could find them in the first or second apron which will significantly hurt their flexibility in building a roster every year. Because of that more star players should be willing to follow Brunson and take a pay cut to help their team. Stars don’t have to take a $113 million pay cut like Brunson did. Although, they should be willing to instead of making $60-$65 million a year, make $50-$55 million a year. This way they are still getting paid but also helping the team to stay below the second apron.
Helping Your Team Stay Together
To go along with all of that, not only will it help your team financially. It will also help your team stay together longer. The Golden State Warriors had a great nine-plus run with guys like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. However, since 2019 there have been six different champions. It just seems like the days of seeing teams win multiple Championships with a core group of guys are over. Your team could be good enough to win two to three championships but only win one because of these new deals.
However, if you have a star like Jalen Brunson willing to take a pay cut to help the team your team will be able to keep more guys on your team together, so you can compete for more years on getting a ring. If your stars aren’t willing, then some important players on your roster that are important in winning a championship might not be around anymore. Just like the Denver Nuggets had to let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in free agency.
The Last Word
Finally, not every star in the NBA is going to follow Brunson in taking a pay cut. However, more stars should consider following Brunson in taking a pay cut. Not only will it help your team financially. It will also allow your team to have the flexibility in keeping more guys on your team to allow you to have a better chance at winning a championship. It will be very interesting to see how the NBA responds if more and more stars follow Brunson and take a pay cut.
