Well whaddaya know, there will be an NBA season after all.

The NBA owners and its players association came to a tentative collective bargaining agreement Saturday morning in an attempt to save the 2011-2012 season.  While it is not official (the players and owners have to vote on it), commissioner David Stern is confident that the season will start with the triple-header on Christmas Day.

What a way to ingratiate its way back into the fans’ good graces.

At any rate, here are a few highlights of the new CBA:

• Revenue split: The players will receive anywhere from 49 percent to 51 percent of basketball-related income based on revenue projections. The split is set on a base case of 50 percent, with the players receiving 60.5 percent of every incremental dollar beyond the targeted amount.
• Maximum salary: A player finishing his rookie scale contract will be eligible to receive a maximum salary equal to 30 percent of the salary cap if he signs with his prior team and meets certain performance benchmarks: first, second or third team All-NBA two times; an All-Star starter two times; or a one-time MVP.
• Minimum team salary increases to 85 percent of the salary cap in the first two years of the deal and 90 percent of the cap in the years thereafter.

What remains to be seen is if the NBA will increase the age-limit of incoming college players.  I hope that they do for the sake of both the college and pro games.

Bottom line: it was good to see the owners and players use some good ‘ol common sense in getting this deal done.  If the season was cancelled, there would be no way in hell that the game will be financially sustainable.  Hell the NBA still might have a hard time getting fans back from this work stoppage in a down economy.

Again, I know nothing is official and both sides still have to vote on it.  I’m hoping that common sense will prevail at the end of the day.

P.S.  GO KNICKS!!!

Categories: NBA, sports story

Tags: NBA, Sports