Is it me or are fans ignoring the prospect of a labor lockout after next season?
Chris Mannix paints a very ugly picture in his latest column:
And to say there are issues would be putting it lightly; the two
sides have already swapped proposals and, in the words of one NBA
source, "are miles apart.""Basically where we are at is
that we would like fundamental changes," said Stern, "and the players
would very much like the present system to continue."That
can't happen, Stern said. Not with his teams losing $370 million last
season and a national economy in the toilet. No, fixing the NBA's
problems will require a massive overhaul. The owners' proposal calls for
first-round picks to have their salaries cut by about one-third, would
reduce the minimum salary by as much as 20 percent, and would guarantee
contracts for only half their value. The total value of a maximum salary
would drop significantly, as would the number of years for which
players could sign. The players would also see a reduction in their
share of the basketball-related income, of which they currently receive
57 percent.The union, which has been battered and beaten by Stern at nearly
every opportunity over the years, is digging in its heels. It's why many
around the league are bracing for a lockout."I'm
expecting one," said a Western Conference executive."It's
going to happen," texted an Eastern Conference exec.
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