i might add that i know about the lockout, and what the consequenes will if they cant agree until preseason starts.
But is it a lot of fuss about nothing, or is the whole season in danger?

if it shortens the season, mavs and spurs should be happy, as they already have good chemistry and are all a bit older so could use the time off.

i heard the biggest issue is that david stern doesnt have the control he used to have, the owners dont just let him wheel and deal any more. even though the nba is at an alltime high in popularity since the jordan era, they still arent the cash cow that the nfl is, so the problem isnt how to split billions of profits as much as how to make profits. p much everyone agrees that as of now the players have a very sweet deal (57% of revenue).

other huge hurdle is new owners. they arent mega-rich billionaires for the most part, but investors who wanted to make money, and spent massive portions of their bankrolls on this business venture. so theyre not yielding shit on the bargaining table because theyre like, hey, we just spent 400 million on the friggin golden state warriors, so fuck you we arent giving any more money.

in other words, there are MASSIVE gaps in expectations, and there are people who are so stubborn theres a good chance this lockout will kill the whole season in my opinion.

theyve got a shit-ton to lose too, since after 13 years, the league has FINALLY built up a fanbase again among casual viewers. those viewers will run the fuck away if the season gets cancelled.

I have yet to watch an NBA game on TV (I've been to a few in person). I had no idea it was getting more popular. Very interesting.

I think odds are pretty good 50/50 that some games are cancelled, most huge stars won't go overseas unless it is almost a certainty that the entire season gets cancelled. If international league teams a certain of a full season of a Lebron or Kobe they would be willing to pay a massive 1 year contract for them. You saw this in the NHL lockout in 2004(?) a number of superstars in their prime were willing to not come back because of the money and convenience of playing in or near their home country, Jagr, Foresberg.

The owners are not a united front and much of the misery they face is either a sham of creative accounting or their own damn fault for overpaying for mediocre players. Maybe 20-30% of the problems are due to the players.

I hope the stubborn sides will reach in the middle,and the gap of expectations vanishes so the season is not cancelled fully.
As much as id love to see _some_ players playing here in europe, i dont want the NBA become a money losing business wich could happen if the season is cancelled (that would neam the end of nba right?)

Anyway, the Basketball market here in europe is not even the tenth size of the US market, and i dont think anyone of the players will play here for the money. Maybe they will play to stay in shape but thats a different matter.

P.S.
Im hoping to see someone like D-Howard or Kevin Durant dominating wether the Euroleague or the eurocup

thanks for your effort

The NBA is already a money losing business, around 90 million dollars were lost by owners last. That was real loss, not tricky accounting losses.

Well if the official press release of the NBA is to be trusted, you are maybe right Sam.
But then, i dont get the players position.
It should be in their best interest, that the teams stay in black numbers.
I think the players revenue of 57% of Basketball related income is high, and nowhere else in the world the players would get that much money.

The biggest problem with the share the players get is the owners using that money so irresponsibly. The players are greedy and they will need to take less to ensure the long term viability of the league, that said the owners really need to get their house in order and cannot expect the players to roll over just because the owners cannot help but throw huge contracts at mediocre players.