SB Nation DC - NBA Lockout Update: Tentative Agreement Has Been Reached To End Work Stoppagehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-11-26T10:35:24-05:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22471622011-11-26T10:35:24-05:002011-11-26T10:35:24-05:00NBA Lockout Tentatively Over: Upcoming Key Dates And Some Wizards Notes
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<p>With multiple outlets now reporting that the <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/26/2587537/nba-lockout-update-tentative-agreement-reached-end-work-stoppage/in/2247162">149-day NBA lockout is over</a>, it's time for NBA fans to focus on the upcoming key dates and team information they need to get them ready for a truncated season.</p>
<p>The NBA plans to play a 66-game schedule, beginning on Christmas Day, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/post/nba-lockout-owners-players-reach-tentative-agreement/2011/11/26/gIQA5EeRyN_blog.html">with a triple header:</a> Boston at New York, Miami at Dallas, and Chicago at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a>. Training camps are slated to begin just 16 days earlier on December 9, with free agency to begin on that same date, possibly creating the same free agency frenzy fans saw when the NFL work stoppage ended.</p>
<p>From SB Nation's Wizards blog <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2011/11/26/2587645/nba-lockout-over-schedule-free-agency">Bullets Forever</a>, here is some <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2011/11/26/2587645/nba-lockout-over-schedule-free-agency">key information Washington fans need to know</a> about the team's possible free agents and the Wizards salary cap situation:</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">As a reminder, here are the Wizards' free agents, without knowing how the cap situation works: </span><span>Nick Young</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> (restricted), </span><span>Josh Howard</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">, </span><span>Yi Jianlian</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> (already had his qualifying offer declined), </span><span>Maurice Evans</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">,</span><span>Othyus Jeffers</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> (with a QO), </span><span>Cartier Martin</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">, </span><span>Hamady Ndiaye</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> (with a QO), </span><span>Larry Owens</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> (with a QO).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" href="http://hoopshype.com/salaries/washington.htm">Here's the Wizards' overall salary situation</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">. You can add $4-5 million more for the salaries for Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton and Shelvin Mack.</span></p>
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<p>If indeed the lockout has ended, the next four weeks are going to be a wild ride. And that's before the regular season even begins.</p>
<p><i>For more details on the lockout and the now impending NBA season, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2011/10/11/2483121/nba-lockout-david-stern-wizards-players-association">visit this Storystream</a> and SB Nation's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> blog <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/">Bullets Forever.</a> Be sure to also visit SB Nation's NBA hub for more news and notes.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/26/2587758/nba-lockout-over-key-dates-wizardsT.J. Doyle2011-11-26T08:12:23-05:002011-11-26T08:12:23-05:00NBA Lockout Update: Tentative Agreement Has Been Reached To End Lengthy Work Stoppage, According To Report
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<p>It appears the long and tumultuous NBA lockout is finally over, according to multiple sources including lockout hotel mainstay Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/16242814/tenative-deal-saves-a-nba-season-starting-christmas-after-exasperating-149-days-of-negotiations">Via Berger's late Saturday evening/early Sunday morning column</a>:</p>
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<p>The excruciating NBA lockout finally ended early Saturday with a tentative agreement that followed another marathon negotiating session, saving a 66-game season that can start on Christmas.</p>
<p>The 25th negotiating session lasted 15 hours and spanned the 148th and into the 149th day of the lockout, which officially will be lifted once the fine points of the deal are agreed to, the players' union reforms and is recognized by the owners and both sides ratify the new labor agreement.</p>
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<p>The owners and and players came together this week for the first time since talks broke down in mid-November, a dissolution of conversation that had many thinking there would be no NBA season at all this year. The Black Friday deal, if it is done, ends a wild five month negotiation that saw multiple ultimatums from the NBA commissioner, repeated failed sessions, numerous false "the lockout is over" tweets from players and those supposedly in the know, and the decertification of the NBA Players Association.</p>
<p>If the deal is agreed upon, the league's plan is to begin the season on Christmas Day with a triple-header. Training camps and free agency would begin on December 9, with the season expected to be 66 games in length.</p>
<p><i>For more details on the lockout and the now impending NBA season, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2011/10/11/2483121/nba-lockout-david-stern-wizards-players-association">visit this Storystream</a> and SB Nation's Washington Wizards blog <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/">Bullets Forever.</a></i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/26/2587537/nba-lockout-update-tentative-agreement-reached-end-work-stoppageT.J. Doyle2011-11-25T14:03:32-05:002011-11-25T14:03:32-05:00NBA Lockout Update: Owners, Players Look To Save Season That Would Begin On Christmas
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<p>On this Black Friday, the NBA owners and NBA Players Association are making one last-ditch effort to preserve the majority of the 2011-12 NBA season and end the NBA lockout. The two sides have been meeting all week and will meet again on Friday to discuss coming to an agreement and beginning the season on Christmas.</p>
<p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtpBJuH8sLy00L73_s8f9SS8vLYF?slug=aw-wojnarowski_nba_lockout_talks_resume_112311">Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports</a> reports that the two sides are confident enough to allow former NBA Players' Association president <span>Derek Fisher</span> rejoin the talks. This runs the risk of poking holes in the union's anti-trust lawsuit, but as Wojnarowski reports, the prospect of a deal overrides that.</p>
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<p id="yui_3_4_1_1_1322247530924_316">His appearance in this week’s negotiations – along with that of several other key Players Association officials – figures to run the risk of validating the league’s charges that the disbanding of the union was a "sham" negotiating tactic. Nevertheless, the belief that the end of the lockout is within reach this weekend inspired Fisher to make the move to join the talks.</p>
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<p>It remains to be seen if the league uses the players' strategy against them later in court. Nevertheless, there appears to be a "do or die nature" to getting a deal done, reports Wojnarowski.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/25/2586352/nba-lockout-update-black-friday-negotiations-christmasMike Prada2011-11-19T11:10:23-05:002011-11-19T11:10:23-05:00President Barack Obama To Host Basketball Exhibition In Washington D.C. In December
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<p>President Barack Obama, a huge basketball fan, will host a basketball exhibition in Washington, D.C. on December 12. The venue for the game has yet to be determined. The game will serve as a fundraising event for the Obama Victory Fund supporting the President's bid for re-election in the 2012 campaign. As might be expected, many basketball luminaries are expected to participate. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/post/president-obama-to-host-exhibition-game-in-washington/2011/11/18/gIQAf4U4ZN_blog.html">Via Michael Lee of the Washington Post</a>:</p>
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<p><span>Kevin Durant</span>, <span>Dwight Howard</span>, <span>Carmelo Anthony</span>, <span>Chris Paul</span>, <span>Chris Bosh</span>, <span>Blake Griffin</span> and <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> guard <span>John Wall</span> are among the players who have committed to play, according to the Obama campaign Web site. Tickets for the first "Obama Classic" start at $100 and courtside seats can be purchased for $5,000.</p>
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<p>A limited number of tickets for the "Obama Classic" priced at $100 will be made available to "Gen44" donors, a classification for the President's younger supporters. General admission tickets are $200, "premium" seats are $500 and courtside seats, as noted above, will set you back five grand.</p>
<p>Other players mentioned as participating in the event, from Lee's "Wizards Insider" blog post:</p>
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<p>The game will also feature former NBA stars, including Riggie MIller and Georgetown legends <span>Patrick Ewing</span>, <span>Alonzo Mourning</span> and <span>Dikembe Mutombo</span>. Other confirmed players are former Wizards Juwan Howard, <span>Antawn Jamison</span>, and <span>Jerry Stackhouse</span>, as well as <span>Ray Allen</span>, <span>Vince Carter</span>, <span>Tyson Chandler</span>, <span>Jamal Crawford</span>, <span>Baron Davis</span>, <span>Rudy Gay</span>, <span>Tyler Hansbrough</span>, <span>Dahntay Jones</span>, Brandon Knight, <span>Kevin Love</span>, Jamal Mashburn, Cheryl Miller, <span>Quentin Richardson</span>, <span>Doc Rivers</span>, Steve Smith, <span>Amare Stoudemire</span>, Tina Thompson and <span>Russell Westbrook</span>.</p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/11/19/2573316/president-barack-obama-basketball-exhibition-washington-d-cT.J. Doyle2011-11-11T08:01:32-05:002011-11-11T08:01:32-05:00NBA Lockout 2011: Players Will Meet Next Week to Review Owners' Latest Offer
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<p>Two days of marathon negotiating sessions after David Stern and the owners' ultimatum deadline of 5:00 PM Wednesday did not yield an agreement in the NBA labor negotiations. What's on the table after these past two days could very well be the owners' last, best offer. If this offer is not agreed to, David Stern did indicate late Thursday night that the owners will follow through on their threat to hit the "reset" button and drop their offer to 47 percent of revenue for the players along with a hard salary cap.</p>
<p>Billy Hunter and <span>Derek Fisher</span> will meet with team representatives early next week, and accept or decline the offer likely on Monday or Tuesday. Stern was confident that the owners would ratify and approve the deal if the offer is accepted by the players early next week. If they do accept the deal, reports indicate that a 72 game season would begin on December 15th. The playoffs would be pushed back a week.</p>
<p>While "significant progress" has been made, the week ends with still no deal. With the ball squarely in the players' court, we will know plenty more early next week.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Stay tuned both here and at <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2010/8/12/1619902/nba-labor-talks-collective-bargaining-agreement-lockout" target="_blank">SB Nation's comprehensive NBA Lockout Stream</a> for news and analysis about the labor impasse as it unfolds. </i></span></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/11/2553616/2011-nba-lockout-news-updateBrendan Porath2011-11-10T11:10:29-05:002011-11-10T11:10:29-05:00NBA Lockout 2011: David Stern Lets Ultimatum Pass, Meeting Scheduled For Thursday
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<p>The NBA lockout talks will continue, despite the 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline that commissioner David Stern issued earlier in the week. The owners and the NBA Players Association talked into the night and will reconvene at noon on Thursday after making some reported progress on key issues.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011/11/10/2551356/nba-lockout-2011-talks-david-stern/in/1383943">Stern officially said</a> that the two sides "were not failing and not succeeding," but reports indicate the two sides have made progress on several system issues. The one major sticking point remains the mid-level exception, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011/11/10/2551640/nba-lockout-2011-mid-level-exception-luxury-tax/in/1383943">according to those reports</a>.</p>
<p>If talks break down, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/daldridgetnt/statuses/134522643159334912">a report by David Aldridge of NBA.com</a> suggests NBPA head Billy Hunter will "disclaim interest," allowing the players to conduct an anti-trust lawsuit. There remain reports that the NBA has enough signatures to decertify the union in the event of the talks breaking down again.</p>
<p>No matter what, this is a big day for the league that could ultimately decide the course of the season.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/10/2551918/nba-lockout-2011-talks-david-sternMike Prada2011-11-09T11:24:55-05:002011-11-09T11:24:55-05:00NBA Lockout 2011: Owners, NBA Players Planning Wednesday Meeting, According To Report
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<p>The owners set a deadline for the Players' Association to accept their proposal by today, but they rejected that offer yesterday. Now they reportedly want to meet with the owners again today<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011/11/9/2549357/nba-lockout-2011-david-stern-owners-nbpa-meeting">, hoping to make a deal</a> before the owners lower their offer even further.</p>
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<p>The meeting comes one day after the NBA players rejected the proposal Stern set forth, but said they would be willing to compromise on the Basketball-Related Income split in return for some concessions on the system. Those concessions include a larger mid-level exception even for luxury-tax paying teams, a less-stingy luxury tax penalty for teams who exceed the threshold consistently and the return of sign-and-trades for tax teams.</p>
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<p>It seems like at this point the Owners have a pretty significant amount of leverage here. If they can convince the players to accept a 50-50 split, that would be a significant win for them. But if they are unwilling to accept the changes the players are looking for on system issues, we could be pretty far away from the conclusion of this lockout.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/9/2549483/nba-lockout-2011-david-stern-owners-players-meetingJordan Ruby2011-11-08T17:40:28-05:002011-11-08T17:40:28-05:00NBA Lockout Update: NBA Players Reject Owners' Proposal
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<p>On Monday, NBA commissioner David Stern issued a threatening warning to the Players Association that not accepting the owners' latest proposal would only lead to a longer stalemate and worse deal for the players. Stern set a Wednesday afternoon deadline for the players to accept, essentially saying 'do this by then, or else.'</p>
<p>Well, apparently the players are refusing to acquiesce to Stern's bully tactics. <span>Derek Fisher</span>, executive director of the NBAPA, told reporters Tuesday that after convening with representatives from 29 of the league's 30 clubs, that the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011/11/8/2547924/nba-lockout-players-union-wont-accept-ultimatum-deal-open-to">union would reject Stern's proposal.</a> The primary components of the owners' latest proposal involved a 50-50 revenue split and additional salary cap restraints. Fisher said that in order for the players to continuing compromising about the revenue sharing split, the league would have to open up negotiations about 'system issues':</p>
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<p>"We're open-minded on potential compromises on the number, but there are things in the system that are not up for negotiation for us to have a season," Fisher said.</p>
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<p>Tom Ziller, who's been diligently covering the lockout proceedings for SB Nation, explains what issue players and owners have yet to agree upon:</p>
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<p>The last remaining system issues include a smaller mid-level exception for luxury tax teams, an additional penalty for teams that exceed the tax line multiple times in a short span and a ban on sign-and-trade deals for tax teams. The union feels that these mechanisms will drop players' negotiating power and constrict player movement.</p>
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<p>Stay tuned both here and at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2010/8/12/1619902/nba-labor-talks-collective-bargaining-agreement-lockout">SB Nation's comprehensive NBA Lockout Stream</a> for news and analysis about the labor impasse as it unfolds. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/11/8/2548048/nba-lockout-update-nbpa-billy-hunter-derek-fisherMichael Bean