The past decade was one of player empowerment in the NBA. Moreso than any other league, the players are in charge of their future and are able to dictate where they want to play. Since the owners fought for shorter contracts in the last collective bargaining agreement, the players have forced their team’s hands to move before the team can move them.
Part of the NBA’s empowerment was a massive increase in the salary cap during the summer of 2016 that came along with the new television rights deal. The NBA agreed to a nine-year, $24 billion dollar tv deal with ESPN and Turner Sports which went into effect that summer.