NBA Western Conference Salary Porblems

The salary cap in the NBA is based on the revenue the NBA makes from the previous year. The problems with the economy has lowered the luxury tax substantially for the coming 2009-2010 season. It is predicted to be somewhere between 69-70 million dollars. If a team decides to go over the tax then they will lose millions of dollars. Each NBA team is required to have a minimum of 13 players on their roster and the money is distributed between these players. Living in Utah I know the jazz are in big trouble for the coming year with 5 players who have the decision to opt out of their contract, and all of them want more money. If the Jazz want to keep them all there is no way they can pay them and stay under the cap. But if you look deeper into the western conference a lot of other teams are facing the same problem. I figure there are 6 teams in the west that can compete over the next couple of years: LA, Houston, New Orleans, Utah, Denver, and Portland. Each of these teams, with the exception of Portland, has issues with their team and the luxury tax.

UTAH JAZZ~ For the 2009/10 season, as of right now the jazz have 10 players on their roster and are just over $71 million. That’s already over the cap. And Milsap is not one of those 10 players. The Jazz need to add a minimum of 3 more players and have no money to do it. As you can see, the Jazz are going to have to make some big changes.

LA LAKERS~ The Lakers are in even bigger trouble than the Jazz. Currently for next season the Lakers have 9 players on their roster and at sitting at $74 million dollars. Lamar Odem is not one of those players. Bynum is set to make $12 million next year, Gasol is making $16, and Kobe $23. The lakes will want to keep Odom, and will still need to sign 3 others. But being in a bigger market its not as big of a problem of that facing the Jazz.

DENVER NUGGETS~ The surprise team in the league this year. The Nuggets have a little more room to work with their players. The need to had 3 players and have about $7 million to do so. I am assuming that 2 of those players will be the resigning of JR Smith and The Birdman Chris Anderson.

HOUSTON ROCKETS~ With Ron Artest being a free agent after this season once again, and wanting to stay in Houston, that causes problems for the Rockets. Not only is Artest a risk to have on your team, if he wants a raise, that alone will put them over the cap, still needing to add one more player.

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS~ The Hornets might be in more trouble than any other team. For next season they have 10 current players on roster which are slated to make a combined $76 million. They are already $5 million over the cap with a mandatory need to sign 3 more players.

The Western Conference is always exciting to watch. With the teams 2-7 being decided only by 3 games anything can happen. With the way the luxury tax is, its going to make for an exciting off season. Changes with each team are inevitably going to occur.