While we have the NBA playoffs about two weeks away, there have been some distractions that are keeping the focus from being fully on them. One is the number of tanking teams this year, and Adam Silver saying that they will find a solution to combat the teams that don’t seem to be attempting to win.
The other is the 65-game rule, which is now in its third season of being in effect. Especially this year, it has become highly scrutinized, even more so with the recent Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic injuries which will make them ineligible for end-of-year awards (although Doncic is planning on challenging that).Â
Another player who recently became ineligible is Anthony Edwards, and his head coach, Chris Finch,came up with a potential solution to worthy players not being included due to not playing enough.
"For me, it might be simple: If you're worthy of the award and you haven't played 65 games, you should still get the award, but maybe you don't get the trigger to the money that goes with the award," Finch said.
Finch’s potential solution is one that hasn’t been mentioned by many others.
Finch’s solution seems reasonable
Making an All-NBA team can have substantial benefits for a player. They become eligible for a super-max or rookie max extension. Those with four to six years of experience can receive up to 30 percent of the salary cap, and those with seven or more can receive up to 35 percent.
For example, in the 2024 offseason, Cunningham signed a five-year rookie-scale extension that was worth about $224 million. That was the maximum he could receive, but it could increase in value with end-of-season honors. Cade made the All-NBA third team last season, and now his deal, which kicked in this season, is worth more than $269 million.
Now, with names such as Edwards, Doncic (possibly), and Cunningham no longer being able to be named to an All-NBA team, guys who may not exactly be fully deserving will find their way on. It would put a lot of pressure on their teams when an extension can be given if they want to give them that full 30-35 percent of the salary cap. You know the player agents will always push for it.
Finch also mentioned how the rule has to be in effect. He seems to be in the minority when it comes to that, as most other players/coaches have spoken out for the rule to end, or at least be modified. With the amount of noise surrounding the rule, just like tanking, expect something to be done.
With Finch’s potential solution, Cunningham, Doncic, and Edwards would all likely find their way onto an All-NBA team even while falling short of the current minimum threshold.
Instead, we may see names such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, or Deni Avdija finding their way onto a team. Great players, no doubt, I’m just not sure any of them have been top-15 this season.