Notes: In perfect NBA, new labor deal would reel in players
Aug. 2, 2004
By Mike Kahn
SportsLine.com Executive Editor
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That the NBA is a "stars league" controlled by agents and huge contracts is hardly news. You can go back more than 20 years to when Magic Johnson had seen enough of Paul Westhead as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, laying the groundwork for the hiring of Pat Riley, the advent of Showtime and four more NBA titles.

But this isn't about Magic or the Lakers or Riles. It's about player control.

And it's foul.

Not only do coaches continue to suffer consequences (no coach has been with an Eastern Conference team for more than one season), but star-quality players are forcing trades more than ever while they're under contract, and it's getting out of hand.

So what's the answer?

Russian roulette.

In the next collective bargaining agreement, there should be a provision in the new player contracts that allow for a decided-upon number of time one can sit out without being in breach of contract. Once that happens, the deal is voided, and he's a free agent with no bounds.

Then we'll see who blinks first.

Shaquille O'Neal couldn't stand the way Kobe Bryant was taking control of the Lakers, so Shaq forced a trade to the Miami Heat. What would have happened if he had sat out the start of training camp, and his contract was on the verge of being voided? Certainly nobody would have had $29 million available to pay him as the Lakers will this season ... do you really think he would have taken $4.5 million on the come, when he certainly never would have gotten back that $24.5 million more he would have received from the Lakers.

You catch the drift here?

Kenyon Martin wasn't going to allow the New Jersey Nets to dictate the terms of his new contract, so he forced a sign-and-trade to the Denver Nuggets. But at least he was a free agent.

But it set off a wild fire under owner-to-be Bruce Ratner, as the Nets followed that up by dumping Kerry Kittles. Jason Kidd wants to be traded, too. And has six years and nearly $95 million left on his deal despite knee surgery that has seriously in question until December. Is he going to gamble that contract when teams will be a lot more leery to take on that kind of money considering his present physical condition when he'll be 32 at midseason?

(As an aside, let's throw this out there just for kicks: Kidd and the rights to retired Alonzo Mourning -- who might consider playing again under these circumstances -- to Dallas for Antoine Walker, Josh Howard, Tony Delk and a No. 1 pick?)

Anyway, back to the task at hand. If they were the only players making tidal waves, it wouldn't be an issue. But that's not it. Not even close.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim, with his $14.6 million price tag for this season, says he won't play for the Portland Trail Blazers; he refuses to play small forward, and he's behind the brilliant young talent of Zach Randolph at power forward.

You have that now, right? He makes $14.6 million, won't play small forward and is unhappy coming off the bench. Granted, he didn't get the 30 minutes last year that were expected, but considering how lost, slow and ineffective he looked, nobody could blame coach Mo Cheeks for keeping him on the bench. And now, Abdur-Rahim's people say, "they're holding him hostage>/em>"?

Fine, 'Reef, you willing to give up $10 million to play at the mid-level exception somewhere else? Fine, that would be your option under this proposed agreement.

Maybe it's crazy, but is it any worse than the insanity of the money floating around right now?


Jason Kidd may be the next one to leave New Jersey.(Getty Images)
And speaking of insanity, there's also the case of Vinsanity: the unhappiness of Vince Carter in Toronto. With three coaches in three years, a new general manager and a steady flow of players coming across the border and back, he'd love to go to New York, where Isiah Thomas would welcome him with open arms.

But are the Raptors going to deal their only real sellable player? That's not likely.

There has been talk of Carter to Seattle for Ray Allen, which works both ways. But that probably won't happen. Allen makes about the same money and is a great talent in his own right, but depending on who he's talking to, he either wants to play the rest of his career in Seattle (if he's talking to people in the Northwest) or can't wait to get out (if he's talking to people from anywhere else).

That's the nature of the game today.

More than a decade ago, it seemed one answer to the problem of coaches gaining more clout was multiyear contracts for more than $5 million. Sure, the players, general manager and owners would have to have a little more respect for that, right?

It works to a certain extent, but we also thought because the Detroit Pistons won the 2004 NBA title with an uncommon camaraderie and unselfishness for coach Larry Brown that it might actually help the ebb and flow of the league.

It did -- at least for a couple of weeks until the free-agency period began in July.

Maybe commissioner David Stern can work a miracle with players association director Billy Hunter and they can agree to a new collective bargaining agreement. It just doesn't seem likely the way things are going these days. Another work stoppage would be a nightmare, but agents and players are garnering more control by the second and it might get uglier at the rate it's going now.

Sure, all this player movement is fun and keeps things interesting in the summer. But once the season begins in November and this discontent manifests with all the transitional teams stinking up the joint again, don't be surprised or disappointed at all the terrible games you'll see.

You've been duly warned. The power of the player is careening out of control again. And a lockout is looming next summer.

I'm for Russian roulette. The next deal should include a broader breach-of-contract clause and would be precedent setting in professional sports.

Wouldn't that be fun to see who blinks first?


http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7546474

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