Adam Silver faces first major challenges since taking office

Teams Resting Healthy Players:

In terms of resting players, it’s a  catch 22. These TV contracts are the sole reason the league is approaching a yearly $100 million cap.

Examining the salary cap since Silver came into office showcases precisely how rapidly the cap grew.

Consider the leap allowed for record-setting contracts in the first season of the TV contracts. Although this offseason witnessed greater discretion the initial summer of 2016 resulted in lucky free agents reaping the benefits of this new world. As teams doled out massive contracts to stars and even middling talent.

Sponsors want to see the stars:

At issue for Silver, however, is these massive TV contracts were signed and now he needs to deliver the product. As per Wojnarowski’s article, this was not something Silver was desirous of policing. But, this past season witnessed copious games where multiple stars sat out games.

In the past, it wasn’t unusual for the inventor of resting players (Gregg Popovich) to employ this method. The problem is teams are now taking advantage of this process far earlier in the season and without warrant.

Last season in mid-December the Cleveland Cavaliers kept LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love all at home. The remainder of the team flew to Memphis. This game was the Cav’s first time traveling west.  So, it’s difficult to rationalize the three stars were worn out from travel.

Teams pushing resting to extremes:

This sort of behavior has increased particularly with the top teams. Sure, there is better information available now. Specifically, medical data pinpoints the wear and tear on bodies and provides a better blueprint for maximizing player health. Still, it’s occurring at an unprecedented rate. Even squads with non-playoff teams are utilizing it.

The irony is for years fans have been disappointed by stars choosing to sit out games often on opposing courts. Try telling your ten-year-old nephew or niece LeBron James isn’t playing today because he wants to rest.  From a personal perspective, the sad commentary on this is it took TV dollars for the issue to be addressed. This scribe is a proponent of never resting healthy stars on the road, particularly in opposite coast matches. Okay- rant over.

Television revenues are allowing players to earn record-setting salaries. But, teams focused on getting their top stars rest have turned nationally televised games into a mockery. As Wojnarowski notes:

"And make no mistake: Silver will be aggressive in making sure he gets the two-thirds majority of the owners’ votes needed to fine teams for sitting healthy star players in national television games or multiple healthy starters in regular-season games, and for failing to make a star player sitting out visually accessible to fans on the bench."

This situation is sure to be addressed one way or another.