Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has suggested that the NBA should consider eliminating its salary cap entirely, citing the league's ongoing investigation into alleged salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Green argued on his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show," that if punishments for such violations are not severe, other players and teams will be encouraged to exploit the system.
"If the punishments aren't steep, everybody should do it," Green stated. "If it's just gonna be a slap on the wrist, then everybody should do it, and every player should be trying to do it."
He further proposed that the controversy should reignite the discussion about limiting player compensation. "Let the punishment be getting rid of the salary cap," he said.
The NBA's current salary cap for the 2026-27 season is set at $164.961 million, with a second apron at $221.686 million. The league's system limits both team spending and, through maximum salaries, the earnings of its top players. Green's comments highlight a tension between the NBA's economic structure and the potential for star players to command higher compensation, particularly through outside endorsement deals. Reports have recently intensified scrutiny on Leonard due to a sponsorship arrangement with Daktronics, the company involved in supplying technology for the new Intuit Dome.
Green's critique implies that if the NBA's investigation into Leonard's situation proves prohibited compensation outside his contract, a lenient penalty could set a dangerous precedent. He suggested this would represent circumvention of collectively bargained rules, distinguishing it from finding advantages within the existing rulebook. The potential consequence, he warned, could be an "arms race" favoring wealthy owners and teams with strong external business relationships.
As an example of a league without a salary cap, Green pointed to Major League Baseball, where significant spending disparities have become a central issue in labor disputes. In 2026, the Dodgers' luxury-tax payroll was approximately $415 million, while Miami's was below $82 million. While MLB owners have proposed a cap and floor for 2027, the system has led to wide financial gaps between teams.
However, the article notes that basketball magnifies the impact of individual talent. Without spending restrictions, a few high-revenue franchises could potentially assemble multiple superstars, creating an imbalance that smaller-market teams struggle to match. This could also affect players below the superstar tier, as an uncapped market might prioritize top talent, potentially leaving role players with less guaranteed income.
Green's assertion that player earnings should be constrained while franchise valuations soar also gained traction with the recent $12.5 billion sale of the Lakers. The article suggests that rather than abolishing the system, the NBA might need to re-evaluate its current structure. Potential adjustments could include stronger revenue sharing, revised maximum salary rules, less restrictive apron limitations, or a larger share of basketball-related income for players.
Ultimately, if the league determines rules were broken in the Kawhi Leonard case, the proposed solution is to implement penalties sufficiently strong to deter such actions from being viewed as merely a cost of doing business.