11/27/11 1:03 PM

Publication: City; Date: Nov 27, 2011; Section: Chicago Sports; Page: C1
NBA LOCKOUT

Guarded optimism
New CBA could aid Bulls quest for backcourt upgrade
By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter

Saturday mornings 3:40 a.m. news conference in New York announcing a tentative agreement to end the NBA lockout will be memorable for years. So, too, could be the leagues plan to start a shortened, 66-game season with a Christmas Day tripleheader featuring, among other juicy matchups, the Bulls visiting the Lakers at a star-studded Staples Center. But with training camps and free agency tentatively scheduled to begin Dec. 9, pending expected approval from the leagues owners and players, what Bulls fans want to know is: Who will be starting at shooting guard alongside Derrick Rose? Granted, the new 10-year collective bargaining agreement, with potential opt-outs for either side after six years, carries greater scope than that. Particularly because, once ratified, it will save a 2011-12 season that should build on the momentum from last season. But though lockout rules prohibiting team officials from commenting or talking to players remain in place until the union re-forms to sign the collective bargaining agreement, short- and long-term effects for the Bulls can be gleaned. The Bulls have roughly $64 million committed to 13 players for 2011-12, which is above a salary cap expected to remain near $58 million. They must decide whether to exercise their $1.73 million team chance of winning this taffy pull between millionaires and billionaires as the Timberwolves do of winning the NBA title. In negotiating close to a 50-50 split in BRI basketball-related income owners cut into the players share by at least 6 percent, roughly $250 million per season by some estimates. That will help defray the $300 million Stern says was lost among 22 teams last season. The new, yet-to-be ratified collective bargaining agreement also shortens the length of player contracts and imposes a luxury tax expected to restrict player movement. But cry not for the tall men in short pants. Any complaining from the rank and file in Armani suits should be muted by the average NBA salary paying players $5.15 million. Even after missing paychecks that, in some cases, were worth more than fans in middle America will make in a lifetime and making concessions that were inevitable, NBA players remain the highest-paid pro athletes. They indeed will draw a smaller share of BRI, but the new CBA calls for the salary cap to increase in step with league revenues. If the players had any rights trampled during negotiations, they did a lousy job of communicating it. They lacked unity and, until filing an antitrust lawsuit late in the game, an obvious plan. They never compelled an apathetic public to care about their cause. At least the NFL lockout also ultimately about money shined a light on player safety. The NBA players made oppression seem like missing a payment on a Bentley or having to fly coach. It was hard for fans living paycheck to paycheck to muster up any reaction but Shut up and play. Meanwhile, Stern spun like the public relations guru he is. But both sides suffered from the fact that, in lively cities such as Chicago, not enough people missed the NBA. I didnt after opening night; others never did. The indifference reinforced the league needed the public more than the public needed the league. Now that it looks over, with a season reduced by 240 games, welcome back, NBA. By mid-February, people who still love this game will forget you ever were gone. The fun begins Dec. 9 with training camp and free agency. A compressed preseason and shortened schedule favor a Bulls team whose strength will be continuity. The team that will play game No. 1 against the Lakers will closely resemble the one that lost in Game 5 to the Heat. That carryover effect gives the Bulls an advantage and reason to believe they can post the leagues best regular-season record again. Thats the standard.

http://nieedition.chicagotribune.com/Olive/ODE/ChicagoTribuneNIE/PrintComponentView.htm

Page 1 of 2

11/27/11 1:03 PM

In terms of the extended offseason, extra rest could help rejuvenate Carlos Boozer, provided he returns in shape, and a weary Rose. In terms of immediate priorities, the Bulls include rewarding Rose with a maximum contract and signing an upgrade over shooting guard Keith Bogans. Imagine if the new amnesty clause allowing teams a one-time exception to dump a bulky contract frees up a differencemaking No. 2 guard such as Brandon Roy or Monta Ellis. Or what if the Bulls use a midlevel exception to sign a free-agent scorer such as Jason Richardson or Jamal Crawford? Would Tom Thibodeau accept an offensive threat whos a defensive liability? At least the questions involve winning on the scoreboard and not in the boardroom. At least Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman finally have an impact on the season again more than Stern and NBA union boss Billy Hunter. For a Bulls fan, that promises to make this the best Christmas ever. dhaugh@tribune.com Twitter @DavidHaugh

PATRICK MCDERMOTT/GETTY PHOTO Union chief Billy Hunter, left, and Commissioner David Stern looked happier while announcing an agreement.

http://nieedition.chicagotribune.com/Olive/ODE/ChicagoTribuneNIE/PrintComponentView.htm

Page 2 of 2