Lockout Possibly Over!

[Nolan]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/216761/Lockout_To_Be_Lifted_As_NBA_Players_Agree_To_New_CBA

The NBA and players have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The deal sets in motion a series of steps to end the lockout and play a 66-game schedule in the 2011-12 season, with opening day on Christmas.

David Stern told the media that training camp and free agency would likely begin on the same date, December 9.

At approximately 3 a.m. EST after a meeting that lasted over 15 hours, word began trickling in that the two sides had reached an agreement in principle. Ken Berger of CBS Sports broke the news on Twitter.

All I can say is its about ****ing time. I can't wait for Decemeber 9th!!

[Nolan]

Here's some of the details of the new CBA from Sheridan Hoops.

http://sheridanhoops.com/2011/11/26/nba-lockout-agreement-settlement-details/

_ On the financial split, the players will receive between 49 and 51 percent of revenues, depending on annual growth. The players had complained prior to Saturday that the owners’ previous offer effectively limited them to 50.2 percent of revenues, but the source said 51 percent was now reasonably achievable with robust growth.

_Owners dropped their insistence on what would have been known as the Carmelo Anthony rule, preventing teams from executing extend-and-trade deals similar to the one that sent Anthony from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks last season. This means that if Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and Chris Paul want to leverage their way out of Orlando, New Jersey and New Orleans, they will still be eligible to sign three-year extensions with their current teams before being immediately traded elsewhere.

_ Teams above the salary cap will be able to offer four-year mid-level exception contracts to free agents each season. Previously, owners were asking that teams be limited to offering a four-year deal one year, a three-year deal the next, then four, then three, etc.

_ The rookie salary scale and veteran minimum salaries will stay the same as they were last season. Owners had been seeking 12 percent cuts.

_ Qualifying offers to restricted free agents will become “significantly” improved. The sides had already agreed to reduce the time for a team to match an offer to a restricted free agent from 7 days to 3.

_ A new $2.5 million exception will be available to teams that go below the salary cap, then use all of their cap room to sign free agents. Once they are back above the cap, they will be able to use the new exception instead of being limited to filling out their rosters with players on minimum contracts.

_ The prohibition on luxury tax-paying teams from executing sign-and-trade deals was loosened, although the freedom to execute those types of deals will still be limited.

The deal also includes an amnesty provision, which will allow teams to cut one player from their roster whose salary will not fully count against the salary cap or luxury tax.

So we are going to have an amnesty clause. So what are odds that RJ's still going to be a Spur?

[Ballings7]

I don't know what the chances are, but we need somebody who'll defend and rebound respectably at SF... obviously three point shooting is mandatory.

[Nolan]

I don't know what the chances are, but we need somebody who'll defend and rebound respectably at SF... obviously three point shooting is mandatory.

We do have Leonard and there will be some solids SF's available via free agency. Guys like Tayshaun Prince, Shane Battier, Caron Butler, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson, Jamario Moon and Wilson Chandler (not sure about his buyout in China though).

Battier would be a great fit and I think he`d want to play here too.

[Ballings7]

Leonard for sure, but he's still a rookie so there'll need to be some insurance... the main thing I say there is because of how Pop usually brings rookies along. He's gotta have quite a training camp and pre-season, most likely, to be the main starter.

Prince would be fantastic, and Battier would be nice as well... Prince can have way more of an impact without the ball than Jefferson, and is a comparable shooter, can hit it from the top/middle of the arc too. Battier is more limited as an offensive player, but is very good in the main areas of what's needed, and is an underrated, capable passer, has an elevated awareness of the game, too.

And having a vet. at SF would help out the depth, too. Caron Butler, I do not dislike, and is better than Jefferson as a whole - but I don't think we could get him.

Richardson I really like as a shooter and athlete, but I feel like he's a Jefferson-Spurs-lite or something.

[Nolan]

^
J-Rich probably wouldn't be a great fit. But he'd be better than RJ's been, at least J-Rich can knock down corner 3's with some consistency.

Wilson Chandler's the dude I want though. Good shooter, decent defender, good athlete and he'll fit into our up tempo style of play.

[Donald Kaufman]

I'm actually more excited about a salvaged season than what we do with player movement. Just glad the game is back! Bring on December 25th!

[Nolan]

I'm actually more excited about a salvaged season than what we do with player movement. Just glad the game is back! Bring on December 25th!

Ya I can't believe they actually got a deal done. I was ready for no NBA basketball this season but i'll take a 66 game season.

[Ballings7]

Well, I want to see us improve in weaker areas by making a move or two... that'll make me look foward to the season more. Splitter and Leonard are definitely going to be interesting to watch, though.

Chandler would be ideal, but he's stuck in China, I guess.

[Donald Kaufman]

We've got Leonard and RJ at the 3, I'm pretty happy with that. I don't think we'll make any major moves.

[Ballings7]

I'm happy with having Leonard, I know he'll be in the rotation. At least should be, even if he's making some mistakes at times, that'll ultimately be good for his development into the NBA.

But Jefferson should be like a Battier/Ariza, in the way of devoting his complete focus and energy on rebounding, defense, hustling on cut baskets (aside from making threes). He's got all the tools physically and has shown good energy in the past with Nets from game-to-game (not his offense, purely talking about his "fire"), but just doesn't produce like he really should, even in a decreased role.

Without making a move, the interior defense isn't going to get any better than it has been unless Splitter can be a consistent player... that's kind of a question mark for me. A lackluster interior defense doesn't make me happy.

[Black_Jack21]

I think we really need to make some sort of move. Getting trounced by Memphis showed that we just dont have all the tools needed to seriously challenge the west.

We need more size up front and some more production at the three. Hopefully Splitter will improve to cover that first need, but with an amnesty clause available I can't see any real reason to keep RJ unless they think he can contribute.

So far he is 2/2 in postseasons he didn't show up for, heck we got rid of Hedo after just one bad post season and he went on to be a pretty handy player for Orlando. I think just a change, doesnt matter if its an upgrade or not, but some sort of change is needed. We no longer have the luxury of tinkering, slowly adding the right pieces or just waiting and seeing. It's not going to be long before a full blown rebuild will be upon us so we need to act now and I think passing up on an amnesty clause would be a big mistake.

[Donald Kaufman]

Well apparently we're one of the teams that's interested in pursuing Caron Butler. I don't see him coming to SA but he would be a nice addition.

[Ballings7]

Butler, while he does need the ball to be at his best, I think has more tenacity than Jefferson, in terms of defending and rebounding. Just from watching him over time, he brings that extra focus more than Jefferson if he's not really scoring.

Besides that, he's a better player as a whole. Somewhat above-average in proneness to injury, though.

[Donald Kaufman]

One guy's nickname is Tough Juice. The other is RJ and he's got it tattooed on his shoulder in the most ghey way possible. I know who I'd rather have.

[Ballings7]

Josh Howard being targeted as well, by SA: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... osh_Howard

I'd be a fan of that move, was actually going to bring him up, too - I've always liked Josh Howard's game a lot...

Now, is he coming off a significant injury? Yes. Is he older than he was at his best with Dallas? Yeah. But, he's had a lot of time to recover and get back in shape and his good days aren't over yet at 31 ... he brings just what we need on defense and offense, and that is all enhanced by his athleticism and SIZE at the small foward spot. I just like his activity as a player a lot, and can score in multiple ways. I think in being on a good team again, that's almost sure to make the playoffs, combined with getting back on the court, would revive him as a player.

Overall, I'd actually prefer Howard some more than Butler.

[Donald Kaufman]

I'd take Butler over J Howard any day of the week.

[Nolan]

My only concern with Howard is that left knee, if its okay then i'm all for signing him.

Playing in Washington on bad team last year really hurt his stock. It seemed to me that at times he just didn't care out there, he showed some flashes that can still play though and like Ballings7 said playing on a good team could make a huge difference for him.

Honestly I don't really see much of a difference between Howard and Butler at this point in their careers, they both have similar games and both have similar problems. I'm down for signing either one of them as long as it means RJ is on his way out.

[Nolan]

^
Also guys i'm going to start a new free agency thread for this kinda stuff.

[co_laper]

I kinda like our chances this year.

Memphis lost Shane Battier, but gained Rudy Gay I guess.
OKC is OKC.

They're probably the 2 baddest teams right now.

Lakers just sent Lamar Odom to Dallas, Dallas lost Chandler and their defensive identity. The West is totally open.