NEW CBA NOT A DONE DEAL ... YET
Deadline looms, but sides still meeting, talking
Compared to the 2011 collective bargaining negotiations between the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, the 2016 CBA discussions between the two sides are pleasant.
That doesn’t mean there haven’t been disagreements and back-and-forths, but the tenor has been amicable, leading to a belief that the two sides will reach a long-term deal soon. Commissioner Adam Silver admitted as much after the owners meetings in October.
But they don’t have a deal yet, and Thursday is the deadline for either side to opt out of the cur- rent deal.
We answer questions about the negotiations. What does the Thursday deadline mean?
If neither side opts out, the current deal will remain in place through the 2020-21 season. That is unlikely, and it would behoove the players to opt out if a new deal hasn’t been reached because they stand to gain more with new terms, especially when it comes to rookie and veteran salaries and certain financial exceptions to the salary cap, such as an increase in the mid-level exception.
What does it mean if a deal isn’t agreed to by the Thursday deadline?
As long as one side opts out, it doesn’t mean much. It doesn’t mean there will be a lockout, that’s for sure, and it has no impact on this season. If one side opts out, the league and players have until July 1 to reach a deal before a lockout. There’s nothing that indicates negotiations will drag that long.
Both sides are working to reach a deal, including a late session Monday. Can the two parties agree to extend the deadline?
Absolutely. Whether the extension is a week or a month, that’s a possibility, too. Why is there optimism a deal will get done?
Trust between the NBA and NBPA, starting with Silver and players union executive director Michele Roberts, has been established. Again, it doesn’t mean they agree on everything, but that trust has led to constructive dialogue and progress.
There are fewer fissures within the union today than there were five years ago, and the league is in much better shape financially today than in 2011. It’s much easier to reach a deal when the money is good for both sides. Why isn’t the deal done?
While the two sides have found common ground on a lot of the major issues, they’re still working through the nuts and bolts. Remember, the CBA is a 400-plus-page document, and when lawyers and executives go through it line by line, the process slows.
Also, this is Roberts’ first negotiation with the league, and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul’s first as president of the executive committee comprised of players. They want to make sure they’re getting the best deal for players.
Both sides realize it’s important not only to capitalize on the popularity of the league but to ensure its growth. That’s why they’re intent on completing a deal long before this season ends.