Can players play elsewhere in a lockout? Should they?

[candrew]

I'm hoping they come play in Europe(if the season does shut down) so I can see them.
Still hope it doesn't come to that though.

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Wouldn't that prolong the lockout?

The NHL lost an entire season which some attributied to half the league going to Europe to play hockey.

 

[VINYLONE]

Im not sure, if playing anywhere else is in their contract, but if it isn't, the players should be allowed to play anywhere they want...

 

[jazzmanian devil]

I remember Marko Milic came over from the Suns to my club Fenerbahce during the lockout. He eventually returned when the lockout ended and played briefly for the Suns again.

 

[cnavk]

If the player is under contract, I do not think that he will be allowed to play in Europe due to injury risk. However, I can imagine players like Andrei Kirilenko, whose contract will expire this summer, would play in Europe.

 

[Karadrys30]

I think that those who have contract obligations would not be able to play in leagues that mutually recongnize each others contracts. Kind of like Rubio not being able to just jump over to Minasota. I dont know for sure, but that would make sense unless they have something specific written into the cba that dictates what can happen if a lockout happens.
Or they could just go to some of the smaller leagues that dont have some kind of contract agreement with each other.

 

[NCJazz]

If the player is under contract, I do not think that he will be allowed to play in Europe due to injury risk. However, I can imagine players like Andrei Kirilenko, whose contract will expire this summer, would play in Europe.

Believe this is correct. Only free agents will be allowed to play elsewhere. Perhaps Price will go play in Europe and never come back? DL and WNBA i believe have separate CBAs so they will continue to operate.

 

[GunterD]

https://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=18640

Look at the second story on this page titled "Europe Is Not An Option".

The gist of it is just that European teams in a FIBA league will honor NBA contracts, and therefore no NBA player under contract will be able to play in Europe.

Free agents and rookies who have not yet signed their first contracts would be able to play over there, but would have to sign a contract with the European team that might limit their options in returning to the NBA after the lockout ends.

I believe I also once read an article talking about the players potentially being able to get around this by decertifying the Players Union, but that that would also have some negative consequences and so wasn't likely to happen.

 

[VINYLONE]

Nice find Gunter...

I wonder if NBA players will be eligible for UI.