NBA free agency has hit quite a lull as of late. Part of these doldrums are due to a very active July, but another reason is that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has kind of put the onus on the NBA’s middle class to either accept lesser deals or to wait in hopes that they are somehow able to find a bit of leverage when it comes to their bargaining ability.
NBA Free Agency Feeling Ripple Effects Of New Collective Bargaining Agreement
Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick took a closer look at the recent drop-off in transactions, bringing forward the following (astute) point:
It's worth noting that two of the men who fought during labor negotiations to avoid this pinching of the middle class -- National Basketball Players Association president Derek Fisher and vice president Maurice Evans -- remain unemployed. They're among the many players playing a waiting game with teams that seem determined to fill out rosters with minimum salary deals, like the one NBPA vice president Roger Mason signed with New Orleans last week.
With the European and Asian basketball markets becoming more lucrative each year, an NBA’s average player might be better off taking his talents overseas rather than accepting less than he is worth in the NBA’s open market. If not, he will be forced to continue holding out hope that a team will eventually open its checkbook and pay him what he is worth.
For all of the updates regarding NBA free agency, be sure to stay tuned to this StoryStream.
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