Sounds like the Players need to give back a little.

[moevillini]

...Perhaps Cuban and the rest of the owners should have made a pact. Instead of trying to buy up the best players and outspend each other, perhaps they should have maintained a commitment to keep player salaries down. Instead of offering AK the max, offer him 30 million. And other owners would understand the Jazz's position and wouldn't offer AK more. Just imagine how different the league would have been...

that would probably trigger accusations of collusion

I saw an interesting article that highlighted a less-publicized aspect - that players are not allowed to have any contact with any team office personnel. For example, it mentioned that one of the Hornets players who is getting married in Sept. is close friends with someone in PR for the Hornets and asked him to be one of his groomsmen, but now they are not allowed to have any contact whatsoever, and the friend will need to get special permission from the league to participate in the wedding.

I know a lot of the players who have active foundations work very closely with folks in their team's PR depts., though I guess most of that can continue thru intermediaries.

But it won't be publicized on the team's website. I guess in that regard, it's a good thing we have Twitter and Facebook ;-)

 

[InGameStrategy]

I don't think that would happen. Ever.

Each owner has his/her own agenda. Each wants to win a Championship. If the system has a loophole whereby you can take advantage of it to achieve that goal? They'll take it.

Problem is, some owners have more ability to "take advantage" of the system than other teams. Exhibit A: Mark Cuban and his deep pockets, as opposed to the Jazz, who have always had a policy to keep the team profitable. The rumored 22 teams losing money right now have probably been the ones angling most for significant cuts in player costs. Sadly, these same teams might the ones who are least able to absorb a lockout.

You're right in that neither is the victim and neither is totally evil. But they need to come together and get the 'system' right, so that it's fair for everyone (be it making money or winning).

For the typical $20K, $50K,- or even $200K-salary-per-year fan, "fair" seems a lot less than an average NBA salary of $5 million or more.

Some owners might be exaggerating their losses for effect, but I still side with the owners in this battle--both because they should be able to operate their businesses profitably and also so they can save themselves from themselves spendingwise in the future. When a team drops $20 million per year for an aging Joe Johnson--vaulting up the ticket price for other players, franchise-level and otherwise--then such self-regulating constraints are beneficial.

 

[carolinajazz]

I think anyone wanting to label the players as villains is wrong.

Instead of offering AK the max, offer him 30 million.

.....yeah, that's fair enough! 30 million for a guy who can't hit an open 17 foot jump shot consistently to save his neck......can't remember a play......turns the ball over with proficiency and pulls hang nails serious enough to sit out half the season! He's the "victim" for sure!

 

[Shad]

If I was an owner, I'd fight for a longggggg lockout till things changed. Basketball players are some of the biggest diva's in sports and things need to change more for the owners stand point.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

I think anyone wanting to label the players as villains is wrong.

#1 Anyone in any career tries to get the most out of it as soon as they can. If a teacher is making 30k they'll want 40k. If a doctor is making 100k he'll want 150k. And so on. The players aren't looking at what one can live on. Neither to most Americans. In fact, I'm guessing most Americans could "live on" 20k per year. They'd just have to deal without having phones, multiple cars, 3000 sq foot homes, 4 bathrooms, eating out multiple times per week, plasma tvs, sat tv with a billion channels to not watch, 10 computers, etc.
What the players are looking at are two things...
a. What other players are making
b. How much the overall sport is making

there's a lot of money in the NBA. Without the players, what is this league? So why shouldn't they get their "fair share" of the pie? And I'm not even going to start to guess on what a "fair share" is...

#2 The owners, aren't innocent either. Perhaps Cuban and the rest of the owners should have made a pact. Instead of trying to buy up the best players and outspend each other, perhaps they should have maintained a commitment to keep player salaries down. Instead of offering AK the max, offer him 30 million. And other owners would understand the Jazz's position and wouldn't offer AK more. Just imagine how different the league would have been?

The players have some ridiculous points. As do the owners. Neither is the victim and neither is totally evil.

Re-read your 1b and tell me if your comments still make any sense at all.