NBA Lockout looming? - The Orange Mane

SoCalBronco · 06-09-2005, 06:03 PM

Updated: June 9, 2005, 5:34 PM ET
NBA officials told to prepare for lockoutBy Chad Ford
ESPN.com

Deputy commissioner Russ Granik told members of the NBA's competition committee Monday to prepare for a lockout, four league sources, including two NBA general managers, have told ESPN.com.

League spokesman Tim Frank was more circumspect when confirming Granik's remarks, saying Granik told the committee "to prepare in case of a lockout."

Sources, some at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, are not optimistic that the league and the players' union can reach agreement on a new collective-bargaining agreement before the current contract expires June 30.

The same sources say, however, that any work stoppage will not be a long one.

"There's going to be a lockout," an NBA executive told Ford. "I don't think there's any way we get a deal done any time soon. We're not seeing eye to eye right now. The truth is that players don't really believe a lockout will hurt them in the summer. It won't be until there's a threat of losing that first paycheck that they'll get serious about negotiating again."

While this could be no more than posturing by the NBA, sources on the players' side are quietly conceding the same thing.

"I think they'll lock us out," a source with the NBA Players' Association said. "I think David [Stern] has always wanted to lock us out. I think it's a mistake. They act like they don't have anything to lose, but I think they do. The summer league, free agency, NBA players' playing in the qualifying tournament for the World Championships. The bottom line is that the players want to play. They [the players] offered to extend the current deal until a new one could be put into place. They [the owners] want this, and there's nothing we can do to stop them."

A number of issues currently separate the sides. The biggest is the owners' insistence that guaranteed contracts be considerably shortened. Currently, players can sign for a maximum of six or seven years, depending upon whether the player is signing with a new team (six years) or his current team (seven years). The owners have been trying to get that rolled back to five years.

Three other issues have become sticking points for the players: 1) the owners' proposal to reduce the amount of annual raises in a contract; 2) a "super luxury tax" that would more harshly penalize teams that spend more than a certain predetermined threshold; and 3) the proposed minimum age requirement of 20 years old.

Despite the resignation that a lockout appears inevitable, sources also have expressed optimism that any work stoppage would not be protracted or actually threaten the 2005-06 season.

"I think both sides will take the month of July off," a prominent agent said. "I think we'll head back to the table in August and have something hammered [out] by September. The NBA has no interest in losing revenue and fan support by canceling games. The players have no interest in losing their paychecks. The stakes just aren't high enough right now. But they will be in the fall."

Nuggets4 · 06-09-2005, 06:17 PM

Gee, this sounds EXACTLY LIKE THE NHL!

Ugh.

FADERPROOF · 06-09-2005, 06:19 PM

I'll be pissed, Cavs are on the verge of being decent finally and the NBA locks out.

This Shaman curse is becoming more true day by day.

Dukes · 06-09-2005, 06:20 PM

*Hopefully*

-Slap- · 06-09-2005, 06:57 PM

They probably lockout just long enough to screw up the NBA summer league in Vegas.

Kaylore · 06-09-2005, 07:59 PM

First the NHL, which now has a season coming, and now the NBA. Get ready, Baseball, the writing's on the wall...

-Slap- · 06-09-2005, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaylore

First the NHL, which now has a season coming, and now the NBA. Get ready, Baseball, the writing's on the wall...

The NFL will be next.

Bronco LB 59 · 06-09-2005, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Slap-

The NFL will be next.

I agree. The NFL is due for a work stoppage. It's been 18 years. The NFL is the biggest cash cow in American sports and the players feel they aren't getting enough of the pie.

Garcia Bronco · 06-09-2005, 08:26 PM

Well...I watching game 1 and it's bull**** galore in calls by the refs....different day...same old game.

Swedish Extrovert · 06-09-2005, 08:32 PM

I fell the NFL would be next. Footbally players dont make as much as baseball, or basketball players

Garcia Bronco · 06-09-2005, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightySmurf

I fell the NFL would be next. Footbally players dont make as much as baseball, or basketball players

Per game they make a ton more

06-09-2005, 06:03 PM	#1
SoCalBronco Nixonite Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 33,298 Adopt-a-Bronco: D.J. Williams	NBA Lockout looming? Updated: June 9, 2005, 5:34 PM ET NBA officials told to prepare for lockoutBy Chad Ford ESPN.com Deputy commissioner Russ Granik told members of the NBA's competition committee Monday to prepare for a lockout, four league sources, including two NBA general managers, have told ESPN.com. League spokesman Tim Frank was more circumspect when confirming Granik's remarks, saying Granik told the committee "to prepare in case of a lockout." Sources, some at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, are not optimistic that the league and the players' union can reach agreement on a new collective-bargaining agreement before the current contract expires June 30. The same sources say, however, that any work stoppage will not be a long one. "There's going to be a lockout," an NBA executive told Ford. "I don't think there's any way we get a deal done any time soon. We're not seeing eye to eye right now. The truth is that players don't really believe a lockout will hurt them in the summer. It won't be until there's a threat of losing that first paycheck that they'll get serious about negotiating again." While this could be no more than posturing by the NBA, sources on the players' side are quietly conceding the same thing. "I think they'll lock us out," a source with the NBA Players' Association said. "I think David [Stern] has always wanted to lock us out. I think it's a mistake. They act like they don't have anything to lose, but I think they do. The summer league, free agency, NBA players' playing in the qualifying tournament for the World Championships. The bottom line is that the players want to play. They [the players] offered to extend the current deal until a new one could be put into place. They [the owners] want this, and there's nothing we can do to stop them." A number of issues currently separate the sides. The biggest is the owners' insistence that guaranteed contracts be considerably shortened. Currently, players can sign for a maximum of six or seven years, depending upon whether the player is signing with a new team (six years) or his current team (seven years). The owners have been trying to get that rolled back to five years. Three other issues have become sticking points for the players: 1) the owners' proposal to reduce the amount of annual raises in a contract; 2) a "super luxury tax" that would more harshly penalize teams that spend more than a certain predetermined threshold; and 3) the proposed minimum age requirement of 20 years old. Despite the resignation that a lockout appears inevitable, sources also have expressed optimism that any work stoppage would not be protracted or actually threaten the 2005-06 season. "I think both sides will take the month of July off," a prominent agent said. "I think we'll head back to the table in August and have something hammered [out] by September. The NBA has no interest in losing revenue and fan support by canceling games. The players have no interest in losing their paychecks. The stakes just aren't high enough right now. But they will be in the fall." __________________ ITS A PLAYOFF HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!

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06-09-2005, 06:17 PM	#2
Nuggets4 Requisite Nugs Die-Hard Buffaloes, Buffaloes, Go C-U! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 4,360 Adopt-a-Bronco: Allen Iverson	Gee, this sounds EXACTLY LIKE THE NHL! Ugh.

06-09-2005, 06:19 PM	#3
FADERPROOF Bucknuts Colossus Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Eastlake OH Posts: 17,338	I'll be pissed, Cavs are on the verge of being decent finally and the NBA locks out. This Shaman curse is becoming more true day by day.

06-09-2005, 06:20 PM	#4
Dukes Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 6,317	Hopefully

06-09-2005, 06:57 PM	#5
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	They probably lockout just long enough to screw up the NBA summer league in Vegas.

06-09-2005, 07:59 PM	#6
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,037 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	First the NHL, which now has a season coming, and now the NBA. Get ready, Baseball, the writing's on the wall...

06-09-2005, 08:26 PM	#9
Garcia Bronco Hokie since 1993 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 45,991 Adopt-a-Bronco: Tom Jackson	Well...I watching game 1 and it's bull**** galore in calls by the refs....different day...same old game.

06-09-2005, 08:32 PM	#10
Swedish Extrovert President of the Universe Formerly known as mightysmurf Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Highlands Ranch Posts: 14,947 Adopt-a-Bronco: Joel Dreesen	I fell the NFL would be next. Footbally players dont make as much as baseball, or basketball players