CNN's "This Week in the NBA" examined Canada's income
tax and its influence on players' decisions to play for the
Raptors and Grizzlies. Knicks G John Starks: "You work so
hard to achieve such financial stability, for it to be
sliced -- more than half of it -- it's going to make players
worry about going up there." Grizzlies coach Brian Hill:
"There are different options that they and their financial
people can take to really, completely, offset the tax
situation and make it no different from playing for any team
in the United States. But that's an education that players
and agents are going to have to be provided." CNN's Bryan
Burwell: "This is a battle of perception. ... What they are
battling right now, is the NBA and the two Canadian teams is
trying to convince people that it is no different. It's no
different right now than say, moving from a ... state like
Florida or Texas with no state taxes, to a place like DC
with 49% tax rate, California with a 48%, New York and New
Jersey, that's right around 46 or 47%. How you convince
them is the key." Burwell added that both the Raptors and
Grizzlies have put together a package to show players and
their agents "that there is no difference" (CNN, 3/15).
