Bucks Look to Luxury Tax to Keep Players in Milwaukee

By J.Brig | Posted Wednesday, November 30

Now that the NBA lockout is finally coming to an end, a lot of people are wondering what small-market teams, such as the Bucks, have to show for their efforts. With the details we know so far, not very much.

The league's revised luxury tax clause has been the only change that directly benefits the smaller clubs. The new tax rules would restrict well funded teams, like the Lakers and Celtics, from enticing players away from their smaller counterparts with a higher salary.

We use the word “restrict” here lightly. The luxury tax is basically a fine for offering a budding small-market player a raise, should they move to another team. The restrictions do not ban the richer teams from offering a player more cash; they merely penalize them for doing so. As long as the signing team pays the luxury tax, they are free to go ahead with the deal. Will the higher price tag really scare off possible suitors? It’s more likely is that big-market teams will now save their revenue to stock up on the big name players, creating even more of a talent vacuum.