NBA commissioner Adam Silver predictably said Tuesday that the formation of "superteams" - such as Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors - is far from ideal.
"I don't think it's good for the league," Silver told reporters at a Las Vegas news conference that covered a variety of topics including Charlotte's status as hosts of next season's All-Star weekend, and changes to intentional fouling calls.
"In the case of Kevin Durant I absolutely respect his decision, once he becomes a free agent, to make a choice that's available to him," Silver said. "Having said that, I do think to maintain those principles ... in terms of creating a league in which every team has the opportunity to compete, I do think we need to re-examine some of the elements of our system."
Silver's remarks could be considered a challenge to the National Basketball Players' Association. Either the NBA or the union can opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, and must notify the other side by December. It was expected after the Durant signing - as occurred after LeBron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010 - that smaller market owners will be galvanized to push for a hard salary cap. Such a proposal would assuredly be rejected by the players' union.
"It requires two parties to make those changes," Silver said.
"I think it's critically important that fans in every market have that belief that if their team is well-managed they can compete," Silver added, partly alluding to Durant's former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. "My sense is some of the player movement we just saw isn't necessarily a function of market size. It's clearly, in the case of one particular player, a desire to be in a situation with a group of players who have already proven they can win."
