I am watching with some delight the moves of NBA general managers through the last weeks. I think the NBA has a very sophisticated salary rule system, and the wisest among the managers know how to combine:
1. Player's skills (value).
2. Market forces (price)
3. Salary cap (rules).
Wise managers like Bryan Colangelo know how to play the game. Colangelo, for instance, is an example of what creative negotation can yield.
I'd like to point out that other sports are not regulated in such a way that allow flexibility, financial ortodoxy and creativity to play a part in the game. European soccer is the best example, as far as it becomes a wealthiest-always-reigns game.