To be honest, the amount of leverage and opportunity that some teams have when it comes to the lower tax rates that players have to pay is completely bullshit. To have some sort of parity between these mega franchises in desirable climates and tax brackets, and a franchise like the Toronto Raptors, where there’s much more tax that needs to be paid.
There needs to be more done by the league to give opportunity to teams that don’t have any control of that factor.
Jock taxes
Many players claim permanent residence in no-income-tax jurisdictions like Florida and Texas already. It doesn’t affect the tax paid on playing salaries, but endorsement income, outside investments that are considered ordinary income etc wouldn’t be taxed.
If taxes was the main focus for players, the LA teams and the Warriors would struggle to recruit free agents since California’s state income tax is 12.3% at the top end. Shockingly, players take other factors into consideration, too.