The Godfather of CBA analysts, Larry Coon, joins Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) to break down every aspect that we've heard about the new CBA. What will be in the new agreement, what should be in the new agreement, what might not be, and what teams will be helped and hurt by the new rules.
April 2016 Basketball Wiretap
Cap holds attached to free agents coming off rookie deals could jump to 250 and 300 percent of their prior salaries, which is an increase from 200 and 250 percent in the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement.
The San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards held off on extensions with Kawhi Leonard, Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal, respectively, to maintain a lower cap number.
Cap holds attached to players with more experience would stay the same, though that could change. The Golden State Warriors are counting on Stephen Curry's $18 million cap hold for the 2017 offseason to fit Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston.
Chris Hansen has offered to forgo public financing to build a new arena in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood.
The group also said it would cover the current funding gap to build an overpass over Lander Street, a project long desired by freight and industrial interests concerned about congestion in around the Port of Seattle.
The offer is a surprising move in the nearly five-year debate over building a new arena.
The letter unequivocally says the group is willing to build the arena "at no cost to the City or the County," a change from the original proposal which called for the city and county to back about $200 million in bonds to fund construction.
The group concedes in the letter that "the economic landscape has changed" since it agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding with the city in 2012:
"The recession is behind us and we are deep into this new economic cycle," the letter states. "Interest rates have declined and the NBA has completed its new national television contract, creating more financial certainty in the industry.
"These considerations lead us to suggest a new proposal. Our goal has always been to return the NBA to Seattle and to build a new arena to make that possible. Our partnership with the City and County started five years ago was based on a recognition that private financing of a new arena in the prevailing economic conditions was not economically feasible. The goal of this partnership was to build the arena and bring an NBA team to Seattle. Public financing was simply a mechanism that made that possible at the time."
Hansen's offer follows reports of the NBA considering expansion once they finalize their new collective bargaining agreement.
Adam Silver said the NBA and their players are close to a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement but aren't quite there yet.
Multiple reports have indicated a deal on the main parts of the CBA have been agreed upon.
"The reports aren't far off, but we're not quite there, yet," Silver said Tuesday morning on ESPN's Mike & Mike. "I think we've had very productive meetings ... both sides came to the table with a spirit of partnership, with a sense that things are going very well in the league right now. As I just mentioned, we've had a huge influx of money because our new television deals and I think both sides understood that we would both be blamed if we screwed this up, given the amount of money we were dividing between the teams and the players.
"The conversations have been productive. We're not finished, yet, but I think we're close to an understanding on the key issues. There's a few weeks of negotiating left to happen, but I feel really good about it. I think Michele Roberts, who came in to run the players' association, I think she approached it the same way as her star players, you know, let's get down to business; let's focus on what's best for the league, for our fans, the players, so I'm fairly confident we're going to get that done in the next month."
The NBA's new television deal kicks in this season, which has substantially raised basketball related income.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are working on a seven-year extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, with a mutual opt-out in six years.
The seven-year deal could potentially deliver the NBA labor peace through the 2023-24 season, unless the opt-outs are exercised in 2022.
The new CBA will begin with the 2017-18 season. While an agreement isn't fully complete, the two sides have agreed upon most of the major issues.
The previous CBA, agreed upon in December of 2011 after a lockout, was a 10-year deal with an opt-out after five seasons.
Michael Jordan has played a key role in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the players that are nearing completion.
"Let me just single out one owner in particular, Michael Jordan," Silver said during his upbeat update on CBA negotiations this week following the Board of Governors meetings in Manhattan.
"I think having Michael Jordan as part of our negotiating committee, the unique perspective he brings to the bargaining table because of his playing career, having been, of course, a superstar player. Now for players to see him in that position, it doesn't mean that if Michael says it, it necessarily means that they accept that as the position they should take. But I think that's really added a special element unique to this league."
Jordan bought a minority stake in the then-Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 and became majority owner in 2010.
"I think [Jordan's presence], that added an enormous amount to the atmosphere in the room," Silver said.
As part of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, there will be a raise for the rookie-scale, veteran minimum and free-agent exception deals.
Rises in those salaries could come in the 50 percent range over current numbers, sources said.
The first year rookie scale for the 16-17 season ranges from $4,919,300 for the top overall pick to $976,300 for the 30th pick.
The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement will be more favorable for restricted free agents.
Restricted free agents will be allowed to sign offer sheets with teams immediately on July 1st instead of waiting for the end of the moratorium, typically on July 7th.
Incumbent teams will now have 48 hours to match instead of 72 hours.
Teams will also not be allowed to pull qualifying offers to restricted free agents before July 31st.
The NBA is unlikely to include an amnesty clause as part of their new collective bargaining agreement.
In each of the past two CBAs, teams could use an amnesty to remove any existing contract from their salary cap.
An amnesty provision, for example, would have allowed the Miami Heat to resolve their stalemate with Chris Bosh to ensure the remaining $75 million over the next three years would be removed for cap and luxury tax purposes.
There were 21 teams that used the amnesty provision following the 2011 CBA:
Charlotte: Tyrus Thomas
Chicago: Carlos Boozer
Cleveland: Baron Davis
Dallas: Brendan Haywood
Denver: Chris Andersen
Golden State: Charlie Bell
Houston: Luis Scola
Indiana: James Posey
LA Clippers: Ryan Gomes
LA Lakers: Metta World Peace
Miami: Mike Miller
Milwaukee: Drew Gooden
Minnesota: Darko Milicic
Brooklyn: Travis Outlaw
New York: Chauncey Billups
Orlando: Gilbert Arenas
Philadelphia: Elton Brand
Phoenix: Josh Childress
Portland: Brandon Roy
Toronto: Linas Kleiza
Washington: Andray Blatche
With Chris Paul, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony taking on significant roles within the players union, there will be a change in the new collective bargaining agreement of the current 36-and-over rule.
The rule prohibited players from signing five-year max contracts if their 36th birthday occurs within the life of the deal.
The NBA and union have tentatively agreed to change the rule to over 38. The change will give players a significant increase in the amount of guaranteed money they can command.
Paul has an early termination option in his contract in 2017 and will already be 32 in the offseason. James can re-enter the market in 2018 if he declines his player option for 18-19 when he'll be 33 years old. Anthony can also become a free agent in 2018 when he'll be 34.