The Lockout

[T Dot O Dot]

hah, so true

some of his angles on stories are very creative and would be so much more well received if he just applied more subtlety

all that said, if he did that he may not get as many views

he doesnt back away from the fact that he leans heavily on the race factor, so at least he admits it

[T Dot O Dot]

for what it's worth, the report I read on RealGM notes that Jordan is reppin' a group of small market owners who are leveraging their hard stance on the BRI in order to get more desirable profit sharing from the big market teams

based on that dynamic, his actions are more "owners versus owners" than they are "owners versus players"

[T Dot O Dot]

the latest offer:

The NBA’s proposal last night called for the taxpayers to have a “mini-midlevel exception’’ at $2.5M and have it available just once every two years. The taxpayers also would not be allowed to acquire free agents through sign-and-trades. Both items were considered deal-breakers to the union.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_spo ... z1cvdjjVbc

I'm actually good with those restrictions

[T Dot O Dot]

J.J. Hickson's career in the Israeli league is reportedly complete. Noam Schiller, who writes for Hardwood Paroxysm and Cowbell Kingdom, tweets that Hickson has been cut after just one game because he was late for two straight practices. Schiller cites Hebrew-language reports from Israel.

Hickson put up solid numbers in his Hasharon debut last week, but was a stunning -44 as the team got whooped. He had replace the Wizards' Trevor Booker as the team's power forward after Booker suffered an injury, but it doesn't seem as if it was a good fit.

Hickson was the only member of the Sacramento Kings to sign overseas during the NBA lockout to this point. Earlier in the lockout, there were rumors about Marcus Thornton considering offers in China.

[T Dot O Dot]

KBergCBS Ken Berger
For those baffled why there's no deal: Guess how many sign-and-trades were executed by tax payers during previous CBA? No, really, guess.

KBergCBS Ken Berger
Your answer, from union source: FIVE sign-and-trade deals were done by tax-paying teams during previous six-year CBA.

KBergCBS Ken Berger
This is something season could be canceled over, folks. FIVE sign-and-trades in six years. And wait until you hear what they were...

KBergCBS Ken Berger
Three in '05-'06: Knicks-Eddy Curry; Memphis-Marko Jaric; Lakers-Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. Destroyers of competitive balance, all.


KBergCBS Ken Berger
Two in '09-'10: Suns-Hedo Turkoglu (basketball-driven deal); Mavs-Shawn Marion.

[Bklyn]

Like I said, the owners have small market fans convinced this shit is about making it so all teams have a chance to win a chip...while it's all about small teams' owners being protected from their bad management from a financial perspective. Bad teams with bad management will stay bad teams, they'll still have low attendance when they play the Sixers and the Hawks of the world, but they won't be saddled with huge losses for their own personnel management.

[T Dot O Dot]

you dont think taking the full mid-level away from tax teams helps even things out? Or making it harder for teams that spend over the tax 3 out of 5 years?

Lakers would not have been able to get Artest and would have been left with a much tougher decision regarding keeping Ariza

After reading some more on what I posted above I kind of understand why they're doing it. Without the full MLE tax teams are going to have rely heavily on sign & trades in order to circumvent the rules

[Bklyn]

Nope, I don't think it helps even things out. The Ron Artest deals are not what makes team's championship squads. The only team I think something like that maybe would've hurt was the 2006 Heat. They had a boatload of guys taking less cash to suit up with Big and Wade (and they probably would have taken less). Outside of that, I'm not sure if it will help the Indianas and Torontos of the world.

[Jungle Rat]

Unless it's late March, nobody cares if the NBA plays or not.

[Bklyn]

Nah, Christmas day, then no real casual interest until Mid/Late January. The fans fall out of attention during the end of March for three and a half weeks, but otherwise they like their Sunday background TV to be something and the NBA takes that slot.

[AlabamAlum]

If the season is cancelled, will college basketball and MLB be the big winners?

[Bklyn]

No joke, I'm switching to hockey if the season is toast. My Flyers are doing their best to get my attention.

[AlabamAlum]

Bklyn,

I would like to recruit you to be an Anthony Grant/Bama fan. Amenities include a 403b, stock options, and mad cash.

[Bklyn]

I 'on't know, AA. SEC basketball? Never felt right to me.

[AlabamAlum]

I'll throw in a McRib.

[BigRedMan]

Hockey is where it is at. Fuck the NBA and all it stands for.

[Bklyn]

I'll throw in a McRib.

Heh. I've actually never had a McRib. I remember when I first heard of it as a kid in the 80s, it just seemed like it wouldn't be good. So, I've never even had the inclination to try it.

My love is for the McGriddle. Bacon, egg and cheese. They can retire the McRib forever and I'll be solid.

[BigRedMan]

You sir are dead to me.

[Bklyn]

Yeah, I figured. I tried to keep quiet in TGP when the topic swirled around, but I just pulled the equivalent of the cast member hiding from the serial killer in the horror movie avoiding detection and shifting slightly knocking over a vase....

[AlabamAlum]

Okay, Bklyn. I can't offer you any more. I'm already at my fan recruitment cap.