Does anyone know if you can sign a player to a long term contract BEFORE the current CBA expires this year? In other words, can we sign Yao to a 7 year contract before the length of contracts gets reduced in the new CBA? Also, does anyone have any ino on whether the NBDL will become a true minor league, where they get rookie players and let them play to develop? Thanks, DD
The NBDL/minor league is still an arguing point in the talks. Basically, nothing on the table is set. Every issue is tied together (give us this with max contracts, we'll give you this with age limit and this on the minor league and only this for drug testing). The second one is changed, all the rest are re-evaluated. That's how we went from a nearly done deal to back to the drawing board in the last month. Stern talking about the NHL again isn't a good sign. The more the posture and bluff on the two sides, the further apart they are. Evan
I am thinking of getting some NBDL Austin tickets, and thought it might be more fun if some of the players are young up and coming NBA players. DD
The NBA suits and the players' union are all a bunch of morons, to tell you the truth. At least the NHL is fighting over major issues. If they don't completely change their system, the NHL will simply cease to exist. The NBA is squabbling over a bunch of really minor crap. I wouldn't be suprised to see this drag on and cancelling some games at the start of next season
I'm not sure I'd prefer to sign Yao under the old rules. We'd have assurance of having him for fewer years with the new CBA, but it would also give us more flexibility if he busts or has a serious injury. When he becomes a free agent again in 5 years (or whatever), I'll still gamble that we can re-sign him.
