The NBA and the players union want to make significant progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement by December 15th, 2016, the deadline that either side has to inform the other that it wants to exercise its mutual option after the 2016/17 season, according to a report made by Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. The owners and players want to have a new deal that would replace the current agreement, which runs through 2020/21. The league and the union held preliminary talks earlier this month. Dissatisfaction exists with the current system among small-market teams that don’t like the imbalance of local broadcast revenue that funnels more money to large markets and helps them pay the tax, Berger relayed. Spending on mid-tier players is a potential source of friction on the players’ side, Berger noted, though the existing system would make the mid-level exception progressively less valuable.
Here’s more from the week that was…
Miscellaneous News
- The Rockets reportedly expect that Dwight Howard will turn down his more than $23.282MM player option for next season.
- Bucks management and Carlos Boozer have reportedly met about the possibility of a deal.
- The Sixers made Mike D’Antoni their associate head coach.
- Greivis Vasquez underwent surgery to remove a bone spur and loose bodies from his right ankle and may miss up to four months of action.
- The Cavs reportedly have made Joe Harris available for a trade, and they would like to obtain a second-round pick in exchange.
- Private equity investor and Grizzlies minority owner Steve Kaplan is reportedly progressing toward a deal with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor that would see him purchase a 30% share of the Wolves and eventually take over a controlling interest.
- The Timberwolves have reportedly made Kevin Martin available in discussions about potential trades.
- Kings power forward Eric Moreland will be out of action indefinitely after sustaining a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot during practice.
- The Kings have reportedly promised small forward Caron Butler that they will trade him in the near future.
- The NBA has reportedly approved ownership transfer of 100% of the Nets and the Barclays Center to Mikhail Prokhorov.
- Al Horford fired agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports and returned to the Wasserman Media Group.
Signings
- Tony Mitchell, whom the Warriors waived in October, signed with Venezuela’s Cocodrilos de Caracas.
- Free agent center Jerome Jordan signed with Jiangsu Tongxi of the Chinese Basketball Association.
- Bucks preseason cut Marcus Landry signed with San Sebastián Gipuzkoa of Spain.
- Former NBA center Samuel Dalembert and shooting guard Jamaal Franklin signed with Shanxi of the Chinese Basketball Association.
D-League News
You can stay up to date on all the D-League assignments and recalls for the season here.