The current views on my subject are numerous and diverse.  Here is a basic summary of the views from several other websites.

Most of the websites that I looked at said that players in the NBA are focused on money and fame and that none of the current players play the game for the pure love of it.  I believe this is a pretty accurate statement, but just this year Gary Payton and Karl Malone made an exception to this when they turned down a plethora of offers and large price quotes for a largely reduced salary playing for the Lakers.  Well, Karl Malone and Gary Payton likely don't need the money, they want a championship, which the Lakers can help them accomplish.  That exemplifies something other than greed for money in the NBA, wouldn't you say?  Maybe greed for a ring, but everyone wants a National Championship Ring, right?  (Well, everyone wants money, too).

Then there is the salary cap.  The salary cap is not as simple as I first thought it would be; I mean, a team can't spend more than a certain amount and that's the whole deal, right?  That and a Collective Bargaining Agreement,  Basketball Related Income, a Players Union, all these Larry Bird and other exceptions, soft and hard caps, and many  weird contracts and negotiations and agreements involved in the salary cap.  Proves how smart I am!

Other websites have varying opinions on the salary cap.  I think they should keep it as simple as possible so that people can't just cheat the cap with a bunch of strange rules and regulations and weird exceptions.  I'm sure the NBA and the Players Union try the best they can, but wouldn't a new and improved salary cap with clear-cut rules, no exceptions (maybe a few...), and something kids can look at and understand be nice?  Most NBA critics say that the players in the NBA are all about money and the salary cap is just something for players to fight about because in most cases, higher salary cap = higher salary.  Others say that the salary cap is so pliable now and will increase during the future by many multiples due to the greed going around for the past decade.  This past decade has seen a tremendous increase in salary cap numbers and figures and now there is a multi-billion dollar network in the NBA and the salary cap because of the interest in basketball.  Then there is the luxury tax that has spurred much controversy.  This is what Frank Hughes has to say about the luxury tax, "That's what this luxury tax is. One big cramp that is never going to happen, but it won't stop our mothers -- i.e., NBA owners -- from using it as an excuse not to pay players."  The NBA is not going to change anytime soon, but maybe some "fresh talent can give the NBA a needed face-lift"--Bob Young.  But the hottest issue for debate is the Bryant case-but it will not affect the NBA as much as people had anticipated.

Again, many believe that the players in the NBA want more money and fame and this causes some conflict, but this is even more of an incident that is grabbing the attention of the media and public to notice the changes in the NBA.  Every shot counts and now you could earn millions from being able to place the ball in the hoop.  Just imagine that every shot you take is worth a thousand dollars.  That if you do good in a fun sport you could establish a living, and if you can do great, you'll have the world at your fingertips.  Besides the NBA there is Streetball.  This, almost new, sport is played with the orange ball (or a patriotic one) as well.  It has turned the fundamental game into an interesting and fairly entertaining one.  This will be the NBA's biggest competition in the following years due to the new attention brought on all the wacky tricks and AND 1 clothing.  This is the next best thing, many believe, and can bring new light on a kids dream to play basketball while the NBA teams are just too difficult to make. 

Finally, the view on the exchange of money for basketball entertainment should be accounted for.  The main events of the NBA are the games and without sufficient entertainment for the needy crowd, you won't sell any tickets.  So to supply this entertainment the NBA does what it is doing now, it builds a huge industry in the middle of the United States heart.  Also, the pleased crowds will want the merchandise as well, for obvious reasons, and that money goes to the supplier or the store that sells it, but most importantly, the merchandise is one of the biggest ways for the NBA to get their cash.  All the critics know that, and the media exploits it.  You hear about LeBron James and his 120 million dollar endorsement because kids just love a guy from high school teaching the pros.  Well, that is about it.  The current views are similar in ways in that they all almost pin point these facts in their work.  The End!