Your guide to the CBA fine print: tired of talk about the age minimum and length of contracts? Same here. So, let's get down to the stuff that really matters in the NBA's new labor deal

Sporting News, The, July 8, 2005 by Sean Deveney

A few days after commissioner David Stern said the NBA players union was preparing to make a "tragic mistake" and Billy Hunter was claiming to hear a "death knell for the NBA," the two were seated at a table at the SBC Center in San Antonio, smiling and clasping hands for a photo op. A new labor agreement had been struck. Tragedy and death had been averted.

The upshot of the agreement is known. The owners are happy because the length of player contracts has been scaled back a year, annual raises have been dropped by 2 percent and the minimum draft age is 19. The players are happy because the amount of their salaries withheld in escrow has been cut, the owners are not implementing a "super tax" and players suspended more than 12 games will be able to appeal to a neutral body.

But some of the intriguing aspects of the new contract are the ones in fine print. These might have more impact than some of the headline-grabbing issues.

Minor league structure

Players with less than two years of experience will be eligible to be sent to the NBDL, which means the youngsters chosen in the draft will have a place to play. A true minor league, at last.

But there are questions. The league intends to boost the number of NBDL teams to 15, with two NBA teams sharing each NBDL team. But how will NBDL coaches determine playing time? Will there be pressure to play the demoted players ahead of free agents? Financially, can the NBDL sustain itself? Shouldn't NBDL teams be near the NBA teams they serve, to drum up interest?

Trades

NBA trading rules traditionally have been restrictive, to prevent lower-revenue teams from making financially driven trades. Previously, if a team traded a player, the player(s) it received had to make the same salary, within 15 percent (plus $100,000). So, if you wanted to move a $5 million player, you were obligated to take back anywhere from $4.15 million to $5.85 million.

But the 15 percent and $100,000 has been increased to 25 percent and $100,000, so trading a $5 million player now requires taking back between $3.65 million and $6.35 million in salaries.

Second-round picks

Remember how Gilbert Arenas escaped the Warriors thanks to a collective bargaining agreement loophole? No more. Used to be that a second-round pick who signed a two-year deal could become a restricted free agent and his team could match any offer he received. But if that team was over the salary cap--most are--the team could match only to the midlevel exception (about $5 million).

Now, an outside team making an offer for a second-round restricted free agent must start the bidding at the midlevel exception in the first year and can increase its offer to the maximum after that. That allows the player's current team to match any offer using its midlevel exception.

The tax break

Teams that pay the luxury tax might be able to use a one-time opportunity to cut one player. The player still would get paid, but the team could take his salary off its books and gain some cap relief. This rule still is being negotiated, however, and a source says it still is "very much in doubt on the union side."

speed read

Chris Webber, Marcus Camby, Zach Randolph, Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire ... it would take awhile to compile a complete list of players who have had legal problems in connection with marijuana. That's what makes the league's new drug policy--four random tests throughout the season--a very good idea. The steady stream of arrests has done too much damage to the league's image.

INSIDE DISH

The Bucks, timing for firing coach Terry Porter was strange--just one week before the draft, But the decision to fire Porter came after it became evident that there would be some high-profile candidates available, such as Nate McMillan, Flip Saunders. Paul Silas and Eric Musselman: Back in May, when G.M. Larry Harris held a press conference to announce Porter would not be fired, the Bucks figured teams such as the Lakers, Knicks, Timberwolves, Magic and Cavaliers would snap up the big names. But the Lakers got Phil Jackson, the Knicks appear likely to keep Herb Williams, and the other three teams hired assistant coaches. With the No. 1 pick and oodles of salary cap space, the Bucks now figure their coaching job is more attractive. * One downside for the Bucks: A prominent player agent says the treatment of Porter, who was a player just four seasons ago, might damage the team's ability to sign free agents. "The direction of the franchise sure looks a little confused in all this," the agent says. * To fill their need for a backup big man, the Suns put together a deal to send G/F Quentin Richardson to the Knicks for PF Kurt Thomas. But if Thomas starts and Shawn Marion moves back to small forward, the Suns want to keep the option of going small with Marion at power forward. To do that, they'll need find another wing man, preferably a good 3-point shooter. * New Magic coach Brian Hill ticked off PF Dwight Howard by not rehiring assistant Clifford Ray, who was brought in to facilitate Howard's transition to the NBA. Ray also prodded the Magic's other bigs into hitting the boards--the Magic were 23rd in rebounding in 2003-04 and third this season.