Potential rookies prepare for a possible lockout: NBA Draft Update
As June 23rd draws closer, the best college basketball players are gearing up for their first professional experience at the National Basketball Association (NBA) combine. However, the potential rookies who will be evaluated,
interviewed and measured in the combines may experience one of the most unpleasant aspects of the pro-game, a lockout by the league’s owners.
Even though the players are well aware of the fact that they could be locked out, but they are still optimistic.
Kawhi Leonard from San Diego State said on Friday, "We know for sure there's a lockout. Nobody knows right now how far it will go or what's really going to happen. I'm just staying focused on myself and try to get better."
The NBA draft is scheduled on 23rd June while the collective bargaining agreement between the clubs and the players expires on the 30th of June. This effectively means the league could shut down as early as
1st of July if the new agreement between the league and the player union in not reached by that time.
Chris Singleton from the Florida State who plays as forward said that if the lockout takes place and will resume the classes in order to finish the degree.
"I'm 21 hours short and I intend to go back to school. School is very important to me, my mom always preached it and I know I've got to do it for her because I'm the first in my family to go to college." Singleton said.
Kawhi and Chris are among the 54 potential draftees who are participating for the pre-draft appraisal of two days that will be held in Chicago.
Last time the world of NBA faced a lockout was back in 1998-99. However after months of negotiation, both parties had signed a collective bargaining agreement for six years. As a result of the lock out, the clubs shortened the
regular season to 50 games, starting from February 1999.
Florida State forward Chandler Parson who is projected as second round pick isn’t sure how will he deal with the situation and said, "Right now you're just thinking about getting drafted and getting on a team. It all depends on
what situation you're in -- when you get picked, where you get picked, what that organization wants you to do and what your agent wants you to do.”Parson further stated that he will have a discussion with the agent to figure out his future endeavours.
Although, the situation is still unclear as to whether the there will be a lock out, David Stern, NBA’s commissioner has given indications that he will go all out to settle the matter before the deadline. NBA though is not the
only American Sport that is facing this problem. Club owners have also shut down the National Football League (NFL) for the first time since 1987 and players pressed an anti-trust lawsuit in the courts, jeopardizing the start of the 2011 campaign in September.
Stern has also indicated his priority to settle to the matter out of the court. Whether he succeeds in doing so, remains to be seen.
Tags: