Marks: NBA Middle Class Thriving Despite CBA Criticism

Despite growing frustration among fans and some league executives, ESPN’s Bobby Marks isn’t ready to declare that the new NBA collective bargaining agreement has wrecked free agency.

In a recent column for ESPN.com, Marks examined the idea that the second tax apron has “ruined” the offseason and that the current CBA punishes teams for drafting and developing talent.

While he acknowledged that the new rules have created complications for front offices and limited team-building options for contenders, he dismissed the notion that the league’s so-called “middle class” of players is getting squeezed financially.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver made a similar case during a media session at Summer League, stating that players in the middle salary tier are actually faring better than they had under the previous CBA.

Former NBPA president CJ McCollum echoed that view during a recent podcast appearance, as relayed by Front Office Sports.

“I think there’s a misconception that players aren’t being compensated the same ways they have in the past,” McCollum said. “That’s not true. Guys are making more money than they ever have. The middle class is making more money than they ever have before.”

Marks backed up the claim with numbers, highlighting 31 veteran free agents who signed deals this summer worth between $4 million and $20 million annually.

Of that group, 19 changed teams during free agency, a sign that players in that tier are not being pushed out of the market.

He also pointed out that several players who fit that salary profile signed extensions rather than hitting free agency. That list includes Steven Adams, Daniel Gafford and Jaylin Williams.

While the new CBA may have its flaws, particularly for high-spending teams at the top of the market, both the data and the deals suggest that the middle class remains firmly in place.

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