Yahoo: Here’s how an NBA front-office executive described the document the commissioner’s office delivered to the union to start labor negotiations: "It’s just a photocopy of Stern’s middle finger."
After having stated that I think 2011-2012 will be our year to really start being competitive, I find it serendipitous that it may be a lockout year, much like our most recent year of ascendancy, 98-99.
So, that's me looking at the bright side.
about 2 years ago
andy sims
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I can't see how there won't be a strike
it kind of sucks because the NBAs image is already down the toilet
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
I'd love to be a fly on the wall in those negotiations
Having been through a few of these in my business career (once on each side of the table), I’d say Stern’s opening salvo is pretty standard procedure.
"When you look at him, you say: 'Holy God.'" - Pete Carril on Tyreke Evans
Well put.
He did the same thing with NBA refs and it did not give the NBA what it was exactly hoping for by the end of the deal.
UNLESS that underground cavern was a David Thorpe run training facility. The problem of course, is that players really need to play in NBA game situations for them to develop well. So a league of cyborgs needs to be built along with a regulation-sized stadium and tons of fake fans to simulate real NBA games to develop the players. Though at this point the team is spending billions of dollars to develop those players, so you know… maybe it would be smarter to just wait. -- Iashwash
The idea of raising superstar salaries and paying the middle- and lower-class players less won’t wash in a one-man, one-vote union. "If they cut the highest 25 or 30 salaries by, say, 35 percent, you’re not going to have to change that much more for [the owners] to get what they want financially," another player agent said. "LeBron can scream and shout all he wants, but this is a one-man, one-vote union. Once guys figure out that 400 or so players will benefit by the top few taking a major cut, what do you think they’re going to do?"
This is interesting in of itself. And it’s a good point. Why would players across the board want to take a paycut so the LeBron James and the rest of those guys continue to get paid. As important as those guys are, the only way any of the top players could sink the bottom tier players is if they decided not to play anymore.
UNLESS that underground cavern was a David Thorpe run training facility. The problem of course, is that players really need to play in NBA game situations for them to develop well. So a league of cyborgs needs to be built along with a regulation-sized stadium and tons of fake fans to simulate real NBA games to develop the players. Though at this point the team is spending billions of dollars to develop those players, so you know… maybe it would be smarter to just wait. -- Iashwash
Yea, it's not like Kobe, LeBron, or any ot the other top players can make $20M in Europe
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
You gotta call their bluff on that one
To be considered the best, you have to play with the best. I’d find it absolutely shocking if any all-star quality player opted for Europe instead for monetary reasons. I mean, who’s the best player they’ve ever outbid an NBA team for? Josh Childress?
Screw you Knicks! LBJ to the Kings!!!
I'm guessing Nike, Gatorade etc
might not be too happy if they skipped off to Europe. Earning 5-10 mil more on your contract buy then losing 10-15 mil in endorsements doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
by Kfan in Korea on Feb 6, 2010 6:43 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
of course, but
the NBA is big there and in Europe too. NBA stars get the huge money endorsements, not the star of the Shanghai team.
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
by Kfan in Korea on Feb 6, 2010 7:02 PM PST up reply actions
"Why would players across the board want to take a paycut so the LeBron James..."
Manipulation by capitalism… Why do you think “Joe the Plumber” was such a big damn deal? People don’t always know how to work towards their own self-interest.
/commie rant
"Sometimes the capriciousness of youth anesthetizes common sense." -Let Geoff's words guide our patience this season.
by AnotherStupidSN on Feb 6, 2010 10:34 PM PST up reply actions
The NBA is watching profits diminish
Easy solution: cut the salary cap.
If the salary cap lowers to $45M via lowering the CBA from 57% to …. 50% ?
Concede on other issues: hard cap, age minimum, calculation of BRI, etc
If the salary cap is lowered: all of the contracts signed this summer become relatively more expensive as do those older contracts. It also makes ECs more valuable.
For teams like the Kings, they have to navigate these waters today. I am suspect of the acquisition of any long term deals.
Ummm you've got some terminology mixed up.
The salary cap is based off the players designated % of BRI. Right now that percentage is at 57%. Owners want that down to at least 50% if not 45% if you believe Woj. (Who has a tendency to blow these things somewhat out of proportion.)
This is all a media game right now for both sides, but the problem is that the NBA is 70% black and a lot of fans don’t generally care for a bunch of poor black kids immediately becoming far more valuable with their purchasing power than they are.
UNLESS that underground cavern was a David Thorpe run training facility. The problem of course, is that players really need to play in NBA game situations for them to develop well. So a league of cyborgs needs to be built along with a regulation-sized stadium and tons of fake fans to simulate real NBA games to develop the players. Though at this point the team is spending billions of dollars to develop those players, so you know… maybe it would be smarter to just wait. -- Iashwash
I think this is just a money issue. Nothing personal just business
I don’t mean the calculaton of percentage – which we both agree will lower, I meant which factors are included in BRI, Just another thing to haggle over when negotiations begin.
by betweentheeyes on Feb 6, 2010 8:02 PM PST up reply actions
Well if you do that that means less things potentially go to the owners.
Lowering the % is what will lower the salary cap and have the cost control the owners want. Really, what Woj described, to my eyes, was a public posturing move on the owners part that the owners think they can pull off because they know the ticket paying public believes the owners are not the problem here.
UNLESS that underground cavern was a David Thorpe run training facility. The problem of course, is that players really need to play in NBA game situations for them to develop well. So a league of cyborgs needs to be built along with a regulation-sized stadium and tons of fake fans to simulate real NBA games to develop the players. Though at this point the team is spending billions of dollars to develop those players, so you know… maybe it would be smarter to just wait. -- Iashwash
no question
the casual fan seems to side with the owners more than the players – if you talk to NFL fans it usually the opposite.
It is a weird dynamic and race must have something to do with it, but IMO, not much, as US professional sports are all around less caucasian as is the US population.
In general, the owners want what the players want – more money.
by betweentheeyes on Feb 6, 2010 8:14 PM PST up reply actions
I think the NFL has a bit of a special thing going for itself there. I think people realize how truly violent that sport is, or at least have an appreciation for it. These guys don’t get to play very many years and (just from knowing a few fringe guys who tried to get into the league) it is VERY VERY competitive to try and to at least get covered under their medical coverage (that the NFL provides (i forget if its 2 or 3 years, but if you make it past all the preseason cuts two or three times then the NFL covers your medical bills for life). I think most fans realize how short player careers are and how it’s pretty jacked that (unless they sign a huge signing bonus) they can lose their salary at any moment with no guarantees of a future career.
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
true dat.
And football is more involved in the lives of young Americans in high school and college (football games are more of an event) and the players can be cut, the NBA has guaranteed contracts.
by betweentheeyes on Feb 6, 2010 8:28 PM PST up reply actions
i will say though with race and basketball
i think basketball would be a heck of a lot more popular if we currently had a Payton Manning and Tom Brady in the league (White American Causian Hall of Fame type of players). This probably isn’t the right place for that discussion though.
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
It's funny that one of the things that some fans really love (the individuality in players like LeBron or Kobe) is also the reason many fans dislike the NBA.
UNLESS that underground cavern was a David Thorpe run training facility. The problem of course, is that players really need to play in NBA game situations for them to develop well. So a league of cyborgs needs to be built along with a regulation-sized stadium and tons of fake fans to simulate real NBA games to develop the players. Though at this point the team is spending billions of dollars to develop those players, so you know… maybe it would be smarter to just wait. -- Iashwash
Only 1 real guy which is Nash..
Found this interesting website though all about white BBall players
Judgment day is coming!
Not even two weeks ago, your wish came true.
Because people tune in for the fundamentals.
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
after 4 years of undergrad and 3 years of grad school
you have no idea how many times i had to hear people talk about the fundamentals in the college game.
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
by wallywagon11 on Feb 7, 2010 12:42 AM PST up reply actions
Truth be told
I would advise anyone who wanted to teach young players the necessary skills to be good at hoops, to take a look at WNBA games. It’s a highly skilled brand of basketball, it’s just too bad it’s impossible to get people to pay to watch it.
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
No offense bte
But if you were a white male of Anglo Saxon heritage, I might agree with you.
I do agree that the owners & players want more money. I think the concessions between whether it’s just a reduction in BRI (which seems fair to me), or a stricter hard cap is among the many things to be watched.
Personally, I think a hard cap is stupid and keeps teams from doing as well as they can. But the NBA isn’t like the NFL where team quality goes up & down generally based on the franchise. If you can’t keep players in the NBA, your team (especially when that player has chemistry with other players) will suffer. It’s amazing to me how this works out, but I think some owners (Stan Kroenke in particular—who is clearly one of the owners pushing for a hard cap—he used to be the minority owner of the Rams) think the hard cap will keep the Lakers or Knicks from being a better team. But, if the Knicks or Lakers can offer less money to players but find a way to increase sponsorship in those cities (and by extension help players through back channels get lucrative endorsement deals), this will really backfire. The last thing you want to do if you’re the NBA is make the Knicks, Bulls or Lakers have it easier because they have to spend less money AND keep some of the money that makes those markets so valuable.
UNLESS that underground cavern was a David Thorpe run training facility. The problem of course, is that players really need to play in NBA game situations for them to develop well. So a league of cyborgs needs to be built along with a regulation-sized stadium and tons of fake fans to simulate real NBA games to develop the players. Though at this point the team is spending billions of dollars to develop those players, so you know… maybe it would be smarter to just wait. -- Iashwash
none taken
in fact we agree. I particularly agree this last comment. I won’t watch MLB, it is a ridiculous excuse for a League, and the NBA is not the NFL when it comes to popularity, the NBA is the third string of the US market.
If the NBA cannot keep it’s stars on teams, including small market, they are destined to become more of a sideshow than a main event.
by betweentheeyes on Feb 6, 2010 8:38 PM PST up reply actions
wait a minute, are you suggesting that race plays a factor in how sports fans view the league? how shocking
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
I wish I was the first, but, alas, I am not.
UNLESS that underground cavern was a David Thorpe run training facility. The problem of course, is that players really need to play in NBA game situations for them to develop well. So a league of cyborgs needs to be built along with a regulation-sized stadium and tons of fake fans to simulate real NBA games to develop the players. Though at this point the team is spending billions of dollars to develop those players, so you know… maybe it would be smarter to just wait. -- Iashwash
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