With a new CBA actively in the works, this is a critical stretch for the NBA. Not only will these negotiations set the groundwork for league contracts going forward, it will ensure a peaceful continuation of action in the years to come.
While the expectation is that both sides will agree on a new deal, the latest statement from the NBA’s Player Union put pressure on Adam Silver to get the job done and avoid a lockout.
“The March 31st timeline is an important benchmark, and we are doing everything in our power to reach an agreement with the league. If we don’t have a deal and the league decides to opt out, that would be disappointing given all the work both sides have put into the negotiations, and the fair nature of our requests. As far as our fans are concerned, it will be business as usual. Games will continue uninterrupted. The NBPA however does not intend to opt-out.”
Statement from NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio following NBA commissioner Adam Silver's press conference today: pic.twitter.com/T79TbdFjFK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 29, 2023
There is confidence that an agreement will be reached before the deadline, but fans can’t help but wonder about the future of the league and how the increase in player empowerment might impact the NBA’s product moving forward.
Will The NBA Take Action Against Load Management?
Perhaps the biggest issue across the league has been player attendance for games. With many teams and players taking issue with back-to-backs and an 82-game schedule, they have resorted to outright skipping games for the sake of preventing injuries.
This new CBA could have. some incentives to reward (or punish) regular-season participation but Silver has already made his thoughts on the issue known.
“I don’t want to suggest there’s a magic bullet here. I don’t think it’s just about incentivizing players to play more, that the teams are as much a part of the load management as the players are, because again, I think there’s been a societal shift,” said Silver on load management. “Everything’s about winning a championship these days and it’s less, I think in all sports, about how you perform day in and day out. And so it’s a cultural issue as well.”
It will only be a matter of time before we get more details on what kind of deal the NBA and the NBPA have reached, but it’s important for them to reach terms soon or things could get really interesting.
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