The NBA has "tried to calm players' fears" about the
Canadian tax system, according to Jackie MacMullan of SPORTS
ILLUSTRATED. The league has figured that a Raptor player
who "maintains a residence in a nontaxed" U.S. state has a
48.0% tax rate, while a Knick "who lives in Manhattan" has a
49.1% tax rate. MacMullan writes an "accountant who
prepares taxes for dozens of pro athletes estimates that the
Raptor would be taxed at 44%, the Knick at 45%." Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik: "You never hear people who get
traded from Florida to New York say, 'I'm not reporting
because of the taxes.' But it's close to the same thing."
MacMullan: "The league has begun lobbying Revenue Canada to
change its code, and Granik says he will contact the union
to discuss ways to educate players on Canadian tax laws."
Raptors President Richard Peddie said they also plan to
"present their tax data to agents" (SI, 3/2 issue).
NBA NOTES: SI's Phil Taylor looks at the events around
the league's trading deadline last week under the header,
"Hell, No, They Won't Go!" Taylor: "The message was
unmistakable: No longer can it be taken for granted that
traded players will go quietly" (SI, 3/2 issue)....In S.F.,
Glenn Dickey wrote that the NBA is "a mess, as the gap
between the haves and have-nots widens." Dickey: "The NBA
already is seeing attendance decline in some cities
(including Oakland). It will only get worse if the gap
between top and bottom continues to increase" (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 2/25)....Author Armstrong Williams wrote a USA
TODAY op-ed under the header, "Convert The NBA Into A Drug-
Free Zone." Williams: "The players' union also needs to
shape up. It's rejection of the NBA's proposal to add
marijuana to its lists of banned substances is irresponsible
and a disservice, not only to the league, but to
professional sports as a whole" (USA TODAY, 2/25).
