How would you change the CBA?

[Roy Hobbs]

Well now that the Gilbert Arenas gun situation has occurred would anyone be surprised that language is installed in the new collective bargaining agreement that makes it a lot easier to void Uniform Player Contracts?

I won't be.

If language like that is added, ownership is going to have to make a major concession elsewhere, because the union will fight any voiding of contracts tooth and nail.

[nickagneta]

Well now that the Gilbert Arenas gun situation has occurred would anyone be surprised that language is installed in the new collective bargaining agreement that makes it a lot easier to void Uniform Player Contracts?

I won't be.

If language like that is added, ownership is going to have to make a major concession elsewhere, because the union will fight any voiding of contracts tooth and nail.

Maybe, maybe not. I think there will be a lot more support from the players to allow voiding of contracts for the most egregious offenses against the league or against the CBA than you think. I think a very large portion of the players realize that attacking a coach, hand guns in the locker room, drug trafficking, gambling on NBA games, game fixing, certain felonies, getting hurt playing a different sport without authorization are all offenses that probably should be voidable offenses to an NBA contract.

[Roy Hobbs]

Well now that the Gilbert Arenas gun situation has occurred would anyone be surprised that language is installed in the new collective bargaining agreement that makes it a lot easier to void Uniform Player Contracts?

I won't be.

If language like that is added, ownership is going to have to make a major concession elsewhere, because the union will fight any voiding of contracts tooth and nail.

Maybe, maybe not. I think there will be a lot more support from the players to allow voiding of contracts for the most egregious offenses against the league or against the CBA than you think. I think a very large portion of the players realize that attacking a coach, hand guns in the locker room, drug trafficking, gambling on NBA games, game fixing, certain felonies, getting hurt playing a different sport without authorization are all offenses that probably should be voidable offenses to an NBA contract.

Time will tell, but I don't think the union wants to set any precedent whatsoever for voiding a contract.  Once the league gets a foothold and practices like that become more the norm, it's easier for the league to attempt to void contracts in other situations, etc.

[nickagneta]

Well now that the Gilbert Arenas gun situation has occurred would anyone be surprised that language is installed in the new collective bargaining agreement that makes it a lot easier to void Uniform Player Contracts?

I won't be.

If language like that is added, ownership is going to have to make a major concession elsewhere, because the union will fight any voiding of contracts tooth and nail.

Maybe, maybe not. I think there will be a lot more support from the players to allow voiding of contracts for the most egregious offenses against the league or against the CBA than you think. I think a very large portion of the players realize that attacking a coach, hand guns in the locker room, drug trafficking, gambling on NBA games, game fixing, certain felonies, getting hurt playing a different sport without authorization are all offenses that probably should be voidable offenses to an NBA contract.

Time will tell, but I don't think the union wants to set any precedent whatsoever for voiding a contract.  Once the league gets a foothold and practices like that become more the norm, it's easier for the league to attempt to void contracts in other situations, etc.

I agree. That's why I think the concession that the players will look for will be very explicit language with very explicit circumstances listed for the voiding of the contracts. Do that and maybe the owners relax the concessions they will be looking for in regards to the lowering of the percentage that should be going to the players or those in regards to drug testing and penalties that I am sure the owners will be feeling pressure from Congress on to include in the language.

Should be interesting and could make things a bit sticky regarding a work stoppage.