Keyon Dooling is the vice president of the NBA Players' Association, meaning he probably has a good handle on right where everyone stands when it comes to the ongoing NBA lockout. If that is the case, the NBA owners and players seem to be rather far apart in their negotiations considering Dooling is looking at signing a deal in Turkey.
NBA Players Union VP Keyon Dooling To Sign Deal In Turkey, Says Report
Dooling is nearing a deal to play with Efes Pilsten in Istanbul, alongside fellow former NBA players Sasha Vujacic, Tarence Kinsey and Esteban Batista, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Pro Basketball Talk).
This isn't exactly dire news for those hoping the NBA will begin sooner rather than later, but it isn't good when union representatives have decided that playing in Turkey is better for their career than staying and playing stateside with his Milwaukee Bucks.
Of course, considering Dooling isn’t exactly a household name and now on the wrong side of 30, ending up in Turkey could have been an inevitability regardless of the lockout. This is hammered home by the fact that his agent expects Dooling to play in Turkey next season regardless of the lockout ending.
[Agent Kenge] Stevenson said Dooling would expect to play in Turkey next season even if the lockout ends and any opt-out clause would be for legal purposes. The veteran has one year and $2 million remaining on his contract with the Bucks, but Stevenson indicated he thought an agreement could be reached to allow Dooling to play in Europe in the event the lockout was settled.
Either way, if Dooling is able to get a contract anywhere close to the $2 million he’s owed by the Bucks, it’s probably worth taking the plunge if playing time aplenty is available at his stage of his career.
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