Re: Best Players Union?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The way the NBA draft is structured gives owners a huge advantage over the rookies, however. It's borderline ridiculous, actually.
[/ QUOTE ]
But the #1 pick in the NBA makes WAY more than the #1 pick in the NHL. And if you're a 2nd-rounder in the NBA you're an unrestricted free agent when your deal ends. You're not bound to the 3+1+1 to restricted free agency deal that first-rounders are.
In 2005 Andrew Bogut would have gotten something like $19M for his 3+1 year deal. Sidney Crosby would have gotten under $4M in salary.
[/ QUOTE ]
However, Crosby earned several million in bonuses, and will make 8.7 million next year as a 21 year old.
[/ QUOTE ]
True, but even with those bonuses, less than $4 million/year. NHL players having their "full" salary kick in in the 4th year (instead of the 5th like NBA) is a boost.
LeBron would probably have been a better comparison (despite the two years difference in draft years). He earned almost $19M in salary in his first four (about even if not a touch less than Crosby). But then LeBron will make an average of $20M a year for the next three (and even more if he exercises his fourth year option.
|