Spirit of '99: 2011 Lockout Discussion

[Andrew]

I reckon they'd still go back to the NBA in a heartbeat, for the pay if nothing else (though I think the level of competition would also be a factor). In Bogut's case, he's got a longterm guaranteed NBA contract that he has to honour once the lockout finishes.

[Kenny]

Oh I have no doubt about that. I'm just saying that I'd be in favour of the NBA lockout being shorter; even if it meant that those guys didn't play many games in the NBL. I guess the bottom line is that I like the NBA more as well.

[Andrew]

Agreed. If the lockout does end up shortening the season, it would be cool to see those guys play some games in the NBL, raise the profile of Australian basketball and bring some new fans to the sport. But like you said, I don't want to see the NBA season completely lost just so it could happen.

[NovU]

Any season is better than no season at all.

And no season would suck for the players as well. They waste a valuable year possibly affecting many players' legacy epecially those in prime.

[_Steve_]

Any season is better than no season at all.

And no season would suck for the players as well. They waste a valuable year possibly affecting many players' legacy epecially those in prime.

This is what makes me believe that players will finally accept an offer before the season starts. Earning less money is better than earning no money at all, especially for older players or players who'll have chances to sign their last big contracts.

[Andrew]

Indeed. For all the talk from some players that they're willing to lose the entire season, deep down I think their love of the game - and the dollars it brings - means they would really rather it not come to that. Neither side could truly want that to happen to prove their point but understandably they each want a fair deal and don't want to be seen to blink first in the negotiations.

[Andrew]

NBA owners, union talk, to meet again Thursday

NBA owners and players met for about 51/2 hours Wednesday, plan to resume negotiations Thursday, and could even sit down again Friday.

While neither side would say if progress is being made, the frequency of the discussions seems a good sign. They met only twice in the first two months of the lockout that began July 1.

But they went for about six hours last Wednesday, and decided they would go multiple days this week. Both sides said they could even carry over the discussions into a third consecutive day if things go well during Thursday’s session.

That's more like it. It'd be more encouraging to hear that the sides are getting closer on the big issues but it's far better and more productive than them meeting once a month and grumbling/sniping at one another the rest of the time.

[rise]

Apparently they're also thinking about adding a third round to the draft.

[_Steve_]

A came across that list which monitors the signings/plans of quite a lot of NBA players during the lockout.

Another thing:
Wednesday's meeting between NBA and NBPA lasted 5 ½ hours end ended with more meetings beein scheduled for this week.

So after a 5 ½ hour meeting Wednesday, with confirmation that they will meet again Thursday and possibly Friday, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association wrapped up the lockout's 10th week with more activity than acrimony.

Seems as if the union will finally be the first one to blink:

"There's a window here," said union president Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers. "We have an opportunity here to make some progress, to try and hammer some things out. We have an obligation ... I don't think that has changed from July to now. But time is running down -- not necessarily out, but I think we all feel in that room that if we continue to work at it, we can possibly find a way to get a deal done."

source: http://www.nba.com/2011/news/09/07/labor-update-wednesday/index.html#?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[The X]

Apparently they're also thinking about adding a third round to the draft.

I don't see the point, unless you want more flyers taken on international picks.

I also don't like the idea of bottom 8 teams getting two first round picks. I could imagine the tanking once you are out of playoff contention just to make sure you are in bottom 8.

[Andrew]

Yeah, a third round seems like overkill.

[_Steve_]

Apparently they're also thinking about adding a third round to the draft.

I don't see the point, unless you want more flyers taken on international picks.

I also don't like the idea of bottom 8 teams getting two first round picks. I could imagine the tanking once you are out of playoff contention just to make sure you are in bottom 8.

That could really be the reason. Sometimes it's like a waste of draftpicks to pick international players like Rubio or Jonas Valančiūnas when you know that those players won't be available for your team for years. A third round could be a really be compensation in those cases. It would also mean more players for the D-League. But I don't know if that's good or bad for the league...

[rise]

Apparently they're also thinking about adding a third round to the draft.

I don't see the point, unless you want more flyers taken on international picks.

I also don't like the idea of bottom 8 teams getting two first round picks. I could imagine the tanking once you are out of playoff contention just to make sure you are in bottom 8.

That could really be the reason. Sometimes it's like a waste of draftpicks to pick international players like Rubio or Jonas Valančiūnas when you know that those players won't be available for your team for years. A third round could be a really be compensation in those cases. It would also mean more players for the D-League. But I don't know if that's good or bad for the league...

I'm not a fan of the bottom 8 thing. I like the way the draft is right now, but I like the idea of adding the third round. It would mainly be made up of D-Leaguers, but getting an extra young player sounds pretty good.

I'm not sure what you guys are getting at with the international pick thing.

[The X]

I'm not sure what you guys are getting at with the international pick thing.

Look at all the picks late in the 2nd Round, everybody takes flyers on huge projects from Africa hoping that they'll one day develop into a player. When drafts were lots more rounds, I recall people like Carl Lewis being drafted.

[Andrew]

I'm not in favour of the bottom eight idea either. Right now I think accusations of tanking are overblown, that is I don't think many teams really go out of their way to lose but probably aren't trying particularly hard at the same time. With the current system there's no guaranteed reward for tanking, sure you get more chances in the lottery but bottom line having one of the worst three records in the league doesn't guarantee a top three pick. Getting two picks for finishing in the bottom eight adds a little more incentive for teams to actually try and tank. Also, if a lottery team in the bottom eight trades their first round pick(s) to one of the other 22 teams in the league, does that team get two first round picks?

Word has it that the league could cut the preseason to save training camp and presumably ensure there is some kind of abbreviated offseason for signings to take place as there was when the 1999 lockout ended, which would also allow the season to start on time. I don't think losing the pre-season would be a great loss for teams, the regular season is long enough for the first couple of weeks to be a time for them to gel and work out kinks in the rotation. As noted in that blog and the original article, the pre-season doesn't make the league a ton of money like the NFL's does, so if it needs to be cut to save training camp, offseason signings and movement and the regular season itself, so be it.

[benji]

Marc Stein
No done deal but Adam Morrison's agent Mark Bartelstein confirms "real conversations" and interest on "both sides" w/Crvena Zvezda in Serbia

R.I.P. NBA
1946-2011

[Andrew]

In hindsight, wouldn't that actually be 1946-2010? He was out of the league last year after all, clearly the death knell.

[_Steve_]

Maybe Enes "Penis" Kanter can continue where Adam left off. Both really have faces only mothers could love... but he is definitely in need of a beard...

[shadowgrin]

In hindsight, wouldn't that actually be 1946-2010? He was out of the league last year after all, clearly the death knell.

So that was the reason why the Mavs were able to defeat the Lakers and eventually win the championship. I had no idea. Adam

[Andrew]

"Coincidence" seems too convenient an explanation.

[buzzy]

In hindsight, wouldn't that actually be 1946-2010? He was out of the league last year after all, clearly the death knell.

So that was the reason why the Mavs were able to defeat the Lakers and eventually win the championship. I had no idea. Adam

Way ahead of you

[Andrew]

Full bargaining committees are returning to the table tomorrow. With any luck, progress will be made. For what it's worth, Derek Fisher has apparently been privately telling other players to get in shape for the season, which if nothing else suggests they're willing to get a deal done and confident they can work something out in time, at least at the moment.

[_Steve_]

Full bargaining committees are returning to the table tomorrow. With any luck, progress will be made. For what it's worth, Derek Fisher has apparently been privately telling other players to get in shape for the season, which if nothing else suggests they're willing to get a deal done and confident they can work something out in time, at least at the moment.

Much as I expected. But I'm glad to hear, that both sides really work on a deal.

[NovU]

Great. Finally some positive news to hear. Can't wait.

Also makes me wonder how many players will look out of shape next season.

[Andrew]

Probably not too many, fortunately.