Bucks, books, bars and buddies
First, congratulations on the book (“We The North”). I am very much looking forward to it ... My understanding is that max contracts are set as a percentage of the NBA salary cap, but contracts below that level are set in fixed dollars. I was thinking that one way of sharing the risks (both up and down) is for some of the higher value (but not max) contracts to also be written in terms of the salary cap. There are innumerable complexities (I assume) and a whole bunch of pros and cons about this. Leaving all those issues aside, my question for you is: Is there enough trust between the players and the league to do a deal like this?— Jim R. Thanks on the book, I am anxious to see how it’s received. Anxious and stressed. I would imagine there have been discussions at times of slotting salaries as a percentage of basketball related income right down the roster. I also would imagine it didn’t gain much traction because of the changes in the money pool year to year. Can’t imagine players would go for the idea of actual takehome pay changing one season to the next.
I luuuuved your Wayne Gretzky’s story — had me LOLing — which got me thinking that’s the perfect theme for your next book: Doug’s bar-stool stories! Gotta have a chapter dedicated to Jack Armstrong. Whad’ya think?
— Santino I’m not sure a full-blown, lifeon-a-stool memoir is a good idea. I will admit something like that has crossed my mind, but I’d rather protect the guilty — and the innocent — and keep a lot of the good stories private.
Did you find more of a cordialness, a “we’re in this together” attitude, between NBA officials and players after the restart, or was it just a case of no Draymond Green for four rounds and everything just seemed calmer?
— Paul M. I don’t know if there was a level of congeniality because of the bubble circumstances. If there was one — and I didn’t really notice it — I would suspect it was because it was only the best referees and the best teams, and there is a level of skill and respect at the top. This is an answer in your last Mailbag (to a question about acknowledging Indigenous land rights, like many public schools do): “I don’t know if (the Raptors) have ever considered anything like that and it would be a historic acknowledgment, but I don’t see where it would fit in the pre-game program. I also think they should be considering doing away entirely with the anthems.” First of all, the Miami Heat acknowledge the Indigenous peoples in their pre-game celebrations. As to the national anthems, climb onto my bandwagon. They were started during the World Series of 1918 as a tribute to those who were in Europe at that time (and) has continued ... I’m OK with it on special days such as Canada Day, July 4, Nov. 11, etc. but not at every event. — Michael K. Thanks. It’s been a long time since I was at a game in Miami for a variety of reasons and I don’t recall them doing that. Like I said, it would be significant, but I don’t know how it would work here, as in when they would do it so that there was anyone listening. I am sure there are other, more tangible things they might consider.