NBA Lockout is Imminent
With less than 1 day left before the NBA owners lockout their players, both sides remain continents away on all the main financial issues. Seems like the players union has been willing to negotiate, but based on what the owners are asking for it appears many actually want a lockout.
According to NBA executives familiar with the league’s strategies, once the lockout is in place, the owners will push for a hard salary cap of $45 million, the elimination of guaranteed contracts and ask that the players swallow a 33 percent salary cut.Looking like this is going to get ugly quick.
The concessions made in recent weeks, including the “flex cap” of $62 million and a guarantee of $2 billion in annual player payroll, will be off the table.
If this seems certain to guarantee the loss of the entire 2011-12 season, it is because there are owners who think it is necessary for the long-term viability of the league.
