parson wrote:... do we laugh or cry?
On the one hand, I notice that we've the 7th highest salary.
On the other, I remember our history.
If they were free, would Dwight Howard and Josh Smith run to us ... or do they have another favorite? Do they even have the same favorite?
Would there be a league-wide draft when the new CBA came into effect?
Would it be a regional draft?
Would major markets simply pick and choose?
Honestly, I wouldn't worry about this until this one plays out. This is one of the most confounding maneuvers I've seen in the history of following professional sports. In any lockout, the leverage the owners have over the players is a) the fact that the players aren't getting paid, and in the 1st time I remember, b) that the player is actually still roped into a big $$$ contract.
In an attempt to circumvent point a), many players are looking at overseas opportunities. The problem is that that have 2 big points against them: the first is that they are already under a contract and would have to have an out clause from the overseas team in the case that there is a resolution to the lockout; the second is that FIBA stated that the players themselves are responsible for any insurance against their current contracts with the NBA. Hence, the fact that the NBA has them under contract means that the players would have to lose some money from the overseas team since their value overseas is lessened due to their contract with the NBA... and now the owners want to lighten that load?!?! It just seems preposterous to basically tell the players "don't worry about making less $$, we'll take some of the burden in your negotiations off your hands".
The other corollary would be that some players could just go and nullify their contract. The court doesn't want to hear a case in which both sides agree that to a resolution - that isn't what the courts are for. I see no reason why the players negotiating overseas (or the ones who are really underpaid), doesn't simply withdrawl from the case and nullify the contract. Basically, the owners are giving an out to those who want it to pressure the ones who don't.