As the NBA lockout continues, one of the major issues is the supposed divide among the big-market owners and small-market owners. In theory, the big-market owners would prefer to keep the current conditions in place because it gives them a competitive advantage over the small-market owners that are not making enough money to compete. That's what makes the news that Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss is in favor of a hard cap and more robust revenue sharing both surprising and significant.
NBA Lockout: Lakers Owner Jerry Buss In Favor Of Hard Cap, Revenue Sharing, According To Report
Dramatically increased revenue sharing will inhibit the Lakers’ spending. A hard cap will flat-out prevent the Lakers from spending. It’s lose-lose when Buss is 77 years old and determined to come from behind the Boston Celtics in total championships, 17-16.
Yet the Lakers have accepted it. Why?
For the greater good.
That’s a tremendously important development. If Buss is willing to accept weakening his own team’s competitive advantage to help solve one of the league’s major issues in this lockout, then it means that a robust revenue sharing plan is on the horizon. It also means that the owners’ collective resolve for a hard cap, which is something the NBA Players Association has steadfastly opposed, has also grown greater.
Perhaps commissioner David Stern was right that his owners are more united than it would seem.
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