NBA Lockout is Probable

For the past year or so, the NBA and the NBA players' association have been in the process of negotiating for a new collective bargaining agreement. The current collective bargaining agreement expires beginning the summer of 2011 and things are looking like that there will be a lockout. Both sides of the matter, represented by the NBA players' association director Billy Hunter and commissioner David Stern, agree to the fact that there has been little or no progress in coming to any possible agreement.

The league is proposing that the main issue is the players' salary. Commissioner Stern and team owners are calling for a reduction in players' salary of about 700-800 million dollars next year and are also pushing for a harder salary cap that presents no exceptions that the current agreement allow. The deal Stern is trying to achieve guarantees each team owner an annual profit of at least 10 million dollars. Director Billy Hunter states that the players will not strike, but if the owners decide to lock them out, then let it be.

Hunter suggests to all of his players now to begin saving their money because they are not guaranteed a job for the next basketball season. If no deal is met, or no signs of progress come by the February all-star break, it will be because the player' believe the cuts are completely unfair. I cannot imagine a whole season of no NBA games on the television. I say, give the players their money and let them play for the entertainment of the fans! What do you guys think?

Patrick Tabora

kin 332I.S3200