BuzzerBeater Forums

We need a cap on individual salaries ngl.

I think 200-250k would be a good number, that way it would make sense to create and retain some real monsters.

I’d love to see some kind of cap introduced or at the very least, a salary‑reduction mechanism for players stuck on defunct teams.

Take a near‑NT‑level guy on a $200,000 salary. His team disappears, and suddenly his starting bid is $500,000. Fine. But if he sits untouched for three days, why not trigger a drop?
Reduce his salary by, say, 10%, and lower the starting bid accordingly.

Now he’s at $180,000 with a $450,000 opening bid, still valuable, still expensive, but slightly less radioactive.

Maybe it has a 3 drop limit then the player gets "retired".
So after 3 drops the lowest the salary for the $200,000 player would go to is $145,800
200,000 * 0.90 = 180,000
180,000*0.90 = 162,000
162,000 * 0.90 = 145,800

the opening bid would then fall to say $364,500
500,000*0.90 = 450,000
450,000 * 0.90 = 405,000
405,000 * 0.90 = 364,500

If someone cant afford a player at a 72.9% valuation then either their isn't enough teams in the game to justify the contract or there are players at similar skill levels that are the same price.

Yes, salary is tied to TSP and position, but in the real world a 28‑year‑old on a $5 million contract doesn’t just vanish into unemployment; he takes $3 million and keeps playing. Market reality adjusts the price.

This could be implemented for all players with a starting salary over $100,000.

I also understand that this puts the game at risk of D1 level team trying to clean up on 28% discounted players, but then they would also need to then sell their own players to accommodate or keep a roster spot or 2 open for their team to buy these discounted players. It should cause a downward pressure to good players then falling to lower level teams.

Right now, when a team goes defunct or a player gets fired, the purchase cost is basically money thrown into a black hole. It doesn’t go to another team; it just evaporates into the game engine. A reduction system would at least let these players re‑enter the ecosystem instead of sitting on the transfer list like abandoned luxury goods no one can afford.

All 4 players I listed are retired, 3 of those 4 players i would have loved to have on my team. Im fine losing a player due to being outbidded. But them just disapearing because forking out $600,000+ on a 35 yr old for a div II team is nearly impossible to afford. Thats 2 weeks of our divs salary floor gone.

How do you handle skillups in this scenario? I doubt the salary formula is that flexible.

I agree the theory isnt without flaws. It would need input/working from people who are more in the know.

But with that said if good skilled, young players with skill pops remaining are being "retired" early then they cant be that valuable, maybe the salary formula needs a slight tinkering?

this part of the game is the economic part, and it will never be perfect, but tweaks like this could make it better.

I can also understand the reluctance of the developers and coders to want to change something like this as it would be difficult to get the balance right.

Could lower div teams get a slight salary cap benefit to promote taking a risk on older higher salary players that could make the games more competitive?

like if you are Div III, you can sign one player 32+ yr old with a tsp over 105 then you can elect to have that players salary only go against the cap x% like Bird Rights in the NBA and then in Div II the % goes down.

So maybe you sign a 34 yr old, salary is $100,000 TSP is 110 (just example im throwing numbers) then you can elect that players salary is only 70,000 for that season you sign them. (30% discount for div III) if your team is in Div II then you get a 25% discount? If you have made it to the top league no discount as you are in the top league.

It could make the lower divs slightly more competitive, doesn't necessarily take away from younger player development as you know you only get that discount for the year you have the player. So you still need to develop to be competitive next season.

I know Bird rights are for retaining a player that you already have... but its the example i have.

Even then could this be a option that can be added for teams who draft a player, train him up and want his salary on "Bird Rights" it wouldn't help lower less competitive teams unfortunately but could slow the skill drain from the game?

Very much feels like since I last played (Years and years ago) Some slight quality of life improvements have been made, but not enough to keep the lower grades engaged. The game runners have done a great job adding and tweaking since I last played.

I understand that eventually all players must retired. Its just sad to see a level of good players be even unatainable financially for a team thats been glass ceilinged at Div II for 7 seasons, let alone a team thats probably bobbed up and down between div ii and div iii 3-4 times

Hello



In the NHL they have a rule on salary, I just don’t know if know it will be abused or matches basketball.

Salary Arbitration: If a team and a restricted free agent cannot agree, a neutral judge decides the salary. During this formal process, the team's legal/management side is required to present a case arguing why the player's performance or stats mean they deserve a lower salary.

Maybe some of that can used in our free agent market.,

i dont hate it
maybe if the game mods had a option of reviewing to ensure its within a reasonable price range so the game doesnt get lopsided?

Hello

Yes the Gm could see the player is not worth his performance based on stats and skill decline. I do think they do have things there already in the market. .I also do see the free agent thing needs a few tweaks, Some offer are insane for 42 yrs olds but I do understand the balance in the game.