Vegas and Tampa fans: We obviously need a cap limit, otherwise other richer teams could just spend more money and their roster and it would be unfair! Teams should all be spending up to the same limit for parity, otherwise teams that spend more have an unfair advantage over us
Also Vegas and Tampa fans: It's not cheating if we abuse LTIR to spend above the cap limit and more than the rest of the league. All we're doing is spending more money on our roster, it's within the rules!
Just fix it already, it isn't rocket science. So many ways to do it.
1) A player that ends the regular season on LTIR cannot be activated in the playoffs. You expect him back in the playoffs ? Cool, don't go adding another 10M (or whatever his cap hit is) worth of player(s) and then re-activate the "injured player"
You're not expecting him back for playoffs ? Cool you get the cap relief to bolster the roster and spend up to the cap limit just like everyone else.
2) LTIR with limit vs season ending LTIR. Players put on LTIR must remain out of the lineup a minimum of 90 days, maximum of 150 days. If his time on LTIR exceeds 150 days, he is put on season ending LTIR and ineligible to return at any point.
3) Add a luxury tax with a soft cap. The teams that spend over the cap, pay a luxury tax, which is then evenly distributed among say the bottom 5-10 revenue generating teams. Similar to what the NBA does. LTIR players must be activated be before the season ends, if that pushes you over the cap, pay a luxury tax.
4) Re-activation window. If it's in the regular season, something like a 1 week window. Player must be activated 7 days before being eligible to play/practice. If it's in the playoffs, make it a 2-3 week window.
But honestly keep it simple, you finish the season on LTIR, you are ineligible to play in the playoffs. You expect to play in the playoffs ? Ok get activated and cap compliant by game 82. With the expected increases in the cap, this can easily be implemented. If the cap goes up say 5M this year, implement the rule and GMs should manage their cap properly in case of injury. Don't spend 100% up to the cap, give yourself like 5% to breathe.
Also Vegas and Tampa fans: It's not cheating if we abuse LTIR to spend above the cap limit and more than the rest of the league. All we're doing is spending more money on our roster, it's within the rules!
Just fix it already, it isn't rocket science. So many ways to do it.
1) A player that ends the regular season on LTIR cannot be activated in the playoffs. You expect him back in the playoffs ? Cool, don't go adding another 10M (or whatever his cap hit is) worth of player(s) and then re-activate the "injured player"
You're not expecting him back for playoffs ? Cool you get the cap relief to bolster the roster and spend up to the cap limit just like everyone else.
2) LTIR with limit vs season ending LTIR. Players put on LTIR must remain out of the lineup a minimum of 90 days, maximum of 150 days. If his time on LTIR exceeds 150 days, he is put on season ending LTIR and ineligible to return at any point.
3) Add a luxury tax with a soft cap. The teams that spend over the cap, pay a luxury tax, which is then evenly distributed among say the bottom 5-10 revenue generating teams. Similar to what the NBA does. LTIR players must be activated be before the season ends, if that pushes you over the cap, pay a luxury tax.
4) Re-activation window. If it's in the regular season, something like a 1 week window. Player must be activated 7 days before being eligible to play/practice. If it's in the playoffs, make it a 2-3 week window.
But honestly keep it simple, you finish the season on LTIR, you are ineligible to play in the playoffs. You expect to play in the playoffs ? Ok get activated and cap compliant by game 82. With the expected increases in the cap, this can easily be implemented. If the cap goes up say 5M this year, implement the rule and GMs should manage their cap properly in case of injury. Don't spend 100% up to the cap, give yourself like 5% to breathe.
