Here’s a bold statement: Major League Baseball (MLB) owners are pushing for a salary cap, claiming it’s the magic solution to level the playing field for small-market teams. But before you buy into that idea, let’s take a hard look at the NBA—specifically, the Sacramento Kings. And this is the part most people miss: in a league with a salary cap, the Kings have made the playoffs just once in 20 years. If that’s the definition of parity, someone needs to rewrite the dictionary.
With less than 300 days until baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires, MLB owners are gearing up to argue for a salary cap. Their logic? If teams like the Dodgers can’t outspend everyone else, fans in smaller markets might actually believe their team has a shot. Sounds great in theory, right? But here’s where it gets controversial: the NBA’s salary cap hasn’t exactly been a game-changer for the Kings, who are stuck in a cycle of mediocrity despite playing by the same rules as everyone else.
When I approached the Kings for their take on how a salary cap impacts small-market teams, they politely declined. Why? Because they’re busy owning the minor league ballpark in Sacramento that temporarily houses the Athletics—a team with its own relocation drama. Meanwhile, Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé is eyeing an MLB expansion team for Sacramento. Talk about irony.
So, I took the question to the fans. Why can’t the Kings win in a league designed to give them a chance? Cheyenne Merced, a Sacramento native, didn’t mince words: ‘I don’t think it’s a salary cap issue. I think it’s an owner issue.’ Devin Pasua added, ‘The Kings don’t know how to spend.’ Ouch. But they’re not wrong.
Sacramento’s downtown arena is a gem—energetic, fan-friendly, and complete with the iconic purple beam that lights up the sky after a win. It’s a far cry from the days when the team nearly moved to Anaheim or Seattle. As Colin Hutchison put it, ‘I’m glad for what [Ranadivé]’s done to keep the team here. The arena is beautiful. It’s a fun time.’ But here’s the kicker: ‘The Kings do one thing right. They don’t do the other right.’
In their 20-year playoff drought, the Kings have cycled through 10 head coaches and three interim ones. None lasted more than three seasons. Eric Musselman, their first coach in that stretch, now at USC, summed it up: ‘In the NBA, there is a salary cap, and for the most part, the same teams are winning every year.’ So, does Oklahoma City—last season’s champion—prove the salary cap works? Musselman’s response is eye-opening: ‘Salary cap or no salary cap, Oklahoma City is going to win as long as Sam Presti is there.’
Presti, Oklahoma City’s GM, is the NBA’s equivalent of the Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman—a mastermind who thrives regardless of the rules. And let’s not forget the San Antonio Spurs, who won five championships under Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford. Musselman’s takeaway? ‘It’s not the cap. It’s having the right people in place—owner, coach, GM—all aligned.’
The Kings? They’ve had six head coaches and five GMs in 13 seasons under Ranadivé. As Grant Napear, the Kings’ former TV voice, put it bluntly: ‘They have no one to blame but themselves for their futility.’ He’s right. The salary cap isn’t the problem—mismanagement is. The Kings have botched drafts, made terrible trades, and fired coaches like it’s a hobby. Here’s the real question: If a salary cap can’t fix the Kings, what makes MLB owners think it’ll fix their problems?
MLB could explore other ways to narrow revenue gaps without a salary cap. But if they do go that route, success will hinge on smart ownership and management—something not all teams have. Would Branch Rickey turn the Pittsburgh Pirates around if given the chance? Maybe. But for now, if you’re a small-market baseball fan and your owner says a salary cap is the answer, just remember what Sacramento fans would say: LOL.
Controversial thought: Maybe the problem isn’t the rules—it’s the people running the teams. What do you think? Is a salary cap the solution, or is it just a bandaid on a much bigger issue? Let’s hear your take in the comments.
