Wow, you just described the same issues the NHL has to put up with.
Salary cap, no trade clauses, drop in talent after the fist few picks in the draft, players leaving to play in their native countries, farm systems to be managed, etc, etc.
I've never claimed that the NBA Championship isn't tough to win, I'm a Blazers fan for chrissake! (Curse you Pistons/Bulls!) But when you add up the organizational challenges, and the players actually playing the game, I've got to stick to my guns on this one.