CBA Negotiations

[Telemachus]

It's unfathomable to me that someone could make that much money in that short a time and supposedly be broke. Assuming he's not just being a smart a$$. Even still, it's common to hear about these guys having little left after their playing days are done. I understand that they have a ton of expenses that the average Joe doesn't have, but still. Let's say an average NBA player makes about 2 million a year after taxes. All they'd have to do is save 25% of that and they'd have 3.5 million in the bank after 7 years. Of course, that would mean they'd have to squeak by on a meager 1.5 million a year...so rough. These guys are in serious need of some money management advice and a bit of humility.

I would find it very surprising since they don't get a pay check during this time of year anyway. The lockout won't have any financial effect on any of the NBA players until October when they would start getting checks again.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Anyone have the latest news on this lockout stuff? I haven't really been following it so if there's been any developments i missed them. Getting into late August here, I thought they'd have something settled by now.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Anyone have the latest news on this lockout stuff? I haven't really been following it so if there's been any developments i missed them. Getting into late August here, I thought they'd have something settled by now.

There's no news because the two sides are barely talking to each other. Hunter says strained negotiations are at a standstill because owners have made their "final offer" and it's a "take it or leave it." Stern/owners with more obvious cards than the players, seem to wish their CBA situation trending similar to NFL latest agreement - a breakthrough at last minute. The difference is there's more BIG issues on the table unresolved in NBA negotiations with little or no progress on most of them. The NFL talks were ongoing and at least made some steady progress with each round - far different than NBA very chilly on and off talks. Unless something rather spectacular is going on in secret somewhere to push NBA CBA talks forward a chunk of the season is almost sure to be lost. If it's the entire season, I could see a new pro basketball league forming out of the NBA wreckage with a lot of int'l money invested. I think that's one reason there's so many players exploring playing overseas - the money could be there soon to form a worldwide league to directly challenge supremecy of NBA.

 

[bajaden]

There's no news because the two sides are barely talking to each other. Hunter says strained negotiations are at a standstill because owners have made their "final offer" and it's a "take it or leave it." Stern/owners with more obvious cards than the players, seem to wish their CBA situation trending similar to NFL latest agreement - a breakthrough at last minute. The difference is there's more BIG issues on the table unresolved in NBA negotiations with little or no progress on most of them. The NFL talks were ongoing and at least made some steady progress with each round - far different than NBA very chilly on and off talks. Unless something rather spectacular is going on in secret somewhere to push NBA CBA talks forward a chunk of the season is almost sure to be lost. If it's the entire season, I could see a new pro basketball league forming out of the NBA wreckage with a lot of int'l money invested. I think that's one reason there's so many players exploring playing overseas - the money could be there soon to form a worldwide league to directly challenge supremecy of NBA.

I seriously doubt that a new league is going to be formed and challenge the NBA. Last time I looked, money was tighter in europe than it is in the US. Greece is near bankruptsy, and so is Italy. The average salary in the NBA is around 5 mil a year. No other sport anywhere in the world even comes close to that. Starting a new league in the US has been tried before and failed. Unless you want to go back to the old ABA, and the NBA has come a long way since then.

I doubt that the league has made its last offer. I think they're waiting for a significant move by the players association before they really start to negotiate. A lot of posturing going on right now. If anythings going to happen, it should happen in the next few weeks. If we get into october, and nothings happened, then I think the season is in trouble.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I seriously doubt that a new league is going to be formed and challenge the NBA. Last time I looked, money was tighter in europe than it is in the US. Greece is near bankruptsy, and so is Italy. The average salary in the NBA is around 5 mil a year. No other sport anywhere in the world even comes close to that. Starting a new league in the US has been tried before and failed. Unless you want to go back to the old ABA, and the NBA has come a long way since then.

I doubt that the league has made its last offer. I think they're waiting for a significant move by the players association before they really start to negotiate. A lot of posturing going on right now. If anythings going to happen, it should happen in the next few weeks. If we get into october, and nothings happened, then I think the season is in trouble.

I agree Europe is having lots of problems but it's mostly disasterous economies of Southern Europe that's huge drag on the Euro Zone - Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, a couple others. I think if a new worldwide professional basketball league were to emerge (and again, only if NBA loses their season) it would be backed by investors in places with booming economies in relative terms like Brazil, Germany, China, perhaps Russia, perhaps a few Mid East oil rich countries. Probably the players would want to be paid in Swiss francs - I know I would! The old ABA was started mainly to allow investors (owners) to get a pro franchise at half what it cost to have an NBA team at the time. The prospective owners were told that goal was to eventually to get the NBA to merge which would make their original investment soar in value. It worked, taking nine years for the NBA to agree to ABA terms for a merger.

 

[bajaden]

I agree Europe is having lots of problems but it's mostly disasterous economies of Southern Europe that's huge drag on the Euro Zone - Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, a couple others. I think if a new worldwide professional basketball league were to emerge (and again, only if NBA loses their season) it would be backed by investors in places with booming economies in relative terms like Brazil, Germany, China, perhaps Russia, perhaps a few Mid East oil rich countries. Probably the players would want to be paid in Swiss francs - I know I would! The old ABA was started mainly to allow investors (owners) to get a pro franchise at half what it cost to have an NBA team at the time. The prospective owners were told that goal was to eventually to get the NBA to merge which would make their original investment soar in value. It worked, taking nine years for the NBA to agree to ABA terms for a merger.

I agree that anything is possible, but I don't think its likely. When you get into everything it takes to build a league from the bottom up, its a mindboggling enterprize, and an expensive one. However, the threat of such a league might get the NBA owners to move off their current position. I hate to even think of the legalities involved, and how long sides would tied up in court. The players union would have to decertify in an effort to void all the contracts, which in itself would be risky if the new league would fail. In essence, you could have NBA players that are accustomed to regular paychecks, going without pay for a couple of years while the details are being fought out in court.

What would be the view from players that are in the last few years of their career. What would Kobe think about losing a year or two of his career at his age. I'm sure that the top players could find a way to make some money, but I doubt it would even come close to what they're currently making. And the money they lose, they'll never get back.

I know I'm looking at the worse case scenario, but it could happen!

 

[PurpleHaze]

With CBA negotiations apparently frozen or at least frosty - an interesting opinion piece on why owning an NBA franchise is a bad business, because it's not a "real" business anyway. I've been voicing same line for years regarding NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, etc. It's just a play thing hobby, bragging turf, for super rich pro team owners and not much more.

Note: Of course, when you sell is often the big payoff - but little if any before.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6874079/psychic-benefits-nba-lockout

 

[bajaden]

With CBA negotiations apparently frozen or at least frosty - an interesting opinion piece on why owning an NBA franchise is a bad business, because it's not a "real" business anyway. I've been voicing same line for years regarding NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, etc. It's just a play thing hobby, bragging turf, for super rich pro team owners and not much more.

Note: Of course, when you sell is often the big payoff - but little if any before.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6874079/psychic-benefits-nba-lockout

Yeah, I already read it. Interesting article, and I think some of his points have merit. There's no doubt that NBA players aren't the norm when it comes to typical employee's. But nor is their union a typical union. And I think if you go back in time, just about any owner of a team in any sport, bought the team as his personal plaything. But that was then, and this is now, and I seriously doubt that owners like the Maloofs would agree that its just fine to lose money on a hobby.

So I certainly wouldn't call the NBA a typical business, but any orginization that takes in over 4 billion dollars a year, is certainly some kind of business. He may not want to call it a real business, but it makes real money, and pays the players with real money. And awful lot of people earn their incomes from the NBA. But I do get his point. I just wanted to play devils advocate.

 

[bajaden]

Here's an opinion article from Sam Amick on the lockout.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../22/nba.labor.talks/index.html?sct=nba_t11_a1

 

[kennadog]

Dammit...at least talk to each other! Schedule meetings and be there, even if it seems like no one will budge. At least you'd have to sit there and stare at each other for a few hours.

 

[kingsboi]

In order for that to happen, both sides would actually need to cooperate. However, since one or both sides are being stubborn and waiting for a "budge" this waiting game is going to make this sport go in a downward spiral IMO. Look at how hard the NFL tried to have constant meetings, almost every week you hear something about negotiations going on, future talks, etc. Sigh.

 

[hrdboild]

NBA Negotiations in a Handy Chart

Again.... I still think the lion's share of the blame if games are missed this season rests on the shoulders of David Stern and the owners. The players have been willing to make concessions from the beginning and they've basically been laughed off by the owners who won't be happy, it seems, until the players assume all of the financial risk.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Pretty detailed account of where negotiations on new CBA stand and prediction that an agreement could be reached in November...

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/201...s-stalled-labor-talks/?sct=hp_wr_a3&eref=sihp

 

[CruzDude]

There is a mandatory NBPA Regional Meeeting in Las Vegas 10:30am today, 15 Sept at the Vdara Hotel in the City Center. Announcement provided at media desk at Impact Basketball. No further info.