What is one potential consequence of poor salary cap management?

Effective salary cap management is crucial for any professional sports team, as it directly influences the team’s ability to build a competitive roster. When a team mismanages its salary cap, one significant consequence is the inability to retain key players.

This happens because salary cap limitations set a maximum amount a team can spend on player salaries within a given timeframe. Poor management, such as overpaying for certain players or miscalculating cap space, can lead to a situation where there isn’t enough budget left to offer competitive contracts to existing essential players. These players may then become free agents and choose to sign with other teams that can provide them with better financial offers or stability, creating a gap in the team's performance and effectiveness.

Other options like improved team performance, increased fan engagement, and easier contract negotiations do not directly correlate with poor salary cap management; rather, good management practices typically lead to those positive outcomes. In summary, a team's ability to keep its core players is fundamentally jeopardized by inadequate salary cap strategies, making it a critical aspect of team operations.