Reply With Quote
Question: if a hard cap is imposed, ie no ability to go above the cap and not being able to pay a luxury tax, what happens to current NBA contracts?
Bruno?
NEW YORK -- NBA players' association executive director Billy Hunter said Monday he is "99 percent sure" there will be a lockout next summer.
"I think it's highly probable that there will be a lockout and that's what I'm preparing for because I don't see anything else right now," Hunter said.
With negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires next summer going nowhere, Hunter said he's been instructing his players to save their money.
There was no breakthrough in the latest meeting with league representatives last week, and the sides hope to meet again next month. But Hunter said the owners aren't budging on their demands for cuts in salaries, contract lengths and guarantees, annual raises, and the rookie salary scale.
"What's left?" Hunter said in a conference room at the union's headquarters after helping distribute turkeys to 2,000 families outside.
The sides have been negotiating for more than a year, but Hunter agreed with Commissioner David Stern that there's been no progress. And the players are no closer to agreeing to the cuts that the league is seeking.
"I don't really see that the argument's all that compelling for the changes that they're asking for," Hunter said.
The league is calling for a reduction in player salary costs of $700 to $800 million and is seeking a hard salary cap to replace the system which now allows for certain exceptions.
The players counter that the current system has worked, pointing to record revenues and ticket sales, and strong TV ratings. They say the total of negotiated salaries has dropped for three straight seasons and forecast a 3 to 5 percent increase in revenues in 2010-11.
"It seems like things are doing all right and so our position is that we want to do what's best for the game," said New York Knicks guard Roger Mason Jr., a member of the players' executive committee. "Any way that we can make the game better as players, speaking for a lot of the guys, we're all for it. But we don't want to have a deal that's just not fair and that's what we think is being presented to us right now."
Hunter said the league has given no feedback on the proposal the union submitted in July. He offered no specifics of it, other than to say the players could be open to negotiating their guarantee of 57 percent of the revenues -- which Stern has said is a central issue in the next CBA.
Hunter added that the players believe their proposal resonated with some owners, but blames others -- he called them a hawkish group -- for pushing Stern toward a deal Hunter says he won't get, one that would guarantee each owner a minimum annual profit of $10 million.
And Hunter, who has been mostly silent while Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver revealed items from their wish list last month, decided it's time to speak out to them.
"I think the message has to be driven home to I guess that hawkish group of owners that if they're inclined, if they want to lock us out -- because we're not going to strike -- if they want to lock us out and they want to pull the roof down on themselves, then hey, have at it," Hunter said.
Both Hunter and Stern have said progress must be made by February's All-Star break to reduce fears of the first work stoppage since 1998. Hunter isn't sure it'll come by then, saying he's "waiting for some sign, some movement from the owners that they want to reach a reasonable deal.
"Right now they're being unreasonable and I can't tell you when reason's going to set in," he said.
Notes: The NBPA plans to distribute turkeys to more than 8,000 families in NBA cities. They've already given them out in Atlanta, Miami and New Orleans, with planned stops in Los Angeles and Milwaukee.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5840275
Question: if a hard cap is imposed, ie no ability to go above the cap and not being able to pay a luxury tax, what happens to current NBA contracts?
Bruno?
they're grandfathered
Once the existing CBA expires, everything is subject to negotiation. If drastic changes take place, the status of existing contracts will be spelled out in the new agreement.
Not necessarily. NHL contracts were rolled back after their lockout.
This is the most likely scenario, but it's by no means a guarantee when the CBA expires.
You gotta admit that the player salaries in the NBA are just ridiculous. But I doubt the players are going to give in and accept lower salaries.
It pales in comparison to what the owners typically make off the team. And suffice to say they don't work quite as hard.
The players salaries should go down somewhat,but these owners are making off with so much money. The nba right now is pulling in such large amounts of money,the sport is growing really fast. They need to find some middle ground,but the owners have the most to lose in all of this. The players who are free agents are just going to flock to europe and asia
Nhl is not nba no way the big money guys agree to cutting their current salary
Lol, no football or basketball next year. Figures this would happen when we're paying these guys millions to stay in shape and play with a ing ball.
owners really need to check themselves ... no one told Doc Buss to give Luke and Sasha a combined 16 million for 2010 and 2011
Yep
Owners overpay ty players, which means good players will ask for a mega- load of $$$$
the owners
Stern
the NBA
bags want more money, how about when Rashard Lewis is looking for a new team/deal, don't sign him for 6 years, $118 million. in absurd. He's basically a better version of Matt Bonner...and that isn't even that clear this season. Literally dumping millions of dollars out of the franchise...
I read in a previous article that Stern is wanting about a 30% reduction in current contracts.
For all the money I'm paying for games, league pass, merch and what not; and the countless sums that thousands if not millions of other people are paying for this product, I would absolutely LOVE to see how these guys are cooking the books to indicate that they are actually losing money.
I mean if these guys are really such terrible buisnessmen that so many teams are losing money, how did they acquire the enormous sums needed to be able to buy a franchise in the first place?
As if public financing for a new venue every 10 years per team isn't enough of a cherry on top of that sundae.
Will he eat his own cooking and take a 30% reduction in his salary as well?
Of course a lockout is 99% possible right now, it's November. If a deal were to get worked out it wouldnt get worked out now, but rather at the last second...
I'm for reduced salaries if the savings are passed down to the fans who attend the game and not just put into the pockets of the owners.
Coming right out with 30% may not have been the best option. Really that's like going cold turkey, and I've been afraid that a lockout is inevitable since I heard that figure.
Oh well...
We'll at least have the WNBA and BRHornet's penchant for lovin' that form of basketball and women...
I hope the players stand up and don't let Stern's demands fly. A hard cap is insanity, and will kill the great teams. You'd never again see a team like the Lakers with Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, and Odom, the Celtics with Garnett, Pierce, Rondo, and Allen, the Heat with LeBron and Wade, the Spurs with Parker, Duncan, Ginobili, etc. You'd end up with a bunch of 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers teams with one good player and a bunch of mediocre talent around that franchise guy. Parity sucks. I love seeing a great team built up through smart draft picks and trades, and there's no way a team that does that well should be forced to let their players walk against their will.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
