http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13690446p-14533284c.html
By Martin McNeil
The National Basketball Players Association negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA owners this summer and had union members vote on it.
It passed easily, but it's now coming to light that the players were voting on at least two issues that had not been completely worked out. Exactly what they received in lieu of these concessions remains in question, but let's hope it was a somewhat equitable trade.
The league and NBPA are believed to be working on a new dress code that is expected to be instituted. The code could make it mandatory for players to wear sportcoats and slacks (no jeans) in yet-to-be-determined situations such as flights, postgame interviews and on the bench when not dressed for games.
In the grand scheme, the concept hardly is earth-shattering. Some observers, including more than a few players, agree with the move.
Clearly, the NBA is attempting to reshape its image, as it always has and always will. Last season, the league took a step in that direction by fining players for wearing what it sees as inappropriate attire in meetings with reporters. Former Kings guard Cuttino Mobley was one of the first to irk the league for wearing a skull cap (with a team logo) while doing a video interview.
Mobley, one of the league's sharpest dressers, usually can be found wearing a suit. However, that was not enough.
Certainly there are others, including some players, who have a problem with the league telling men how they should dress. And some have an issue with the league determining what is acceptable in terms of the image it is attempting to portray. Cannot a player or person look smooth and clean in a stylish shirt and a pair of jeans, which reportedly will be a no-go? Moreover, it seems as if the parameters of this arrangement and every other new issue should have been spelled out before it was put to a vote for ratification.
Other issues of the new CBA to keep an eye on are the ability of teams to send first-year players and those with less than two years of NBA experience to the NBA Development League, the expansion of drug testing from once during training camp to four times a season and the establishment of an age limit to enter the NBA draft.
With each NBADL squad being allocated players from four teams, there could be major disagreements on how those players are coached and utilized, as well as which systems coaches will use.
Asked Kings coach Rick Adelman, "What happens if every team sends only power forwards? Hopefully, next year there will be more teams and there will be just two NBA teams affiliated with each."
It could be a different twist on how players will be affected by increased drug testing, but some players wonder if there will be more stressed-out ballers this season.
Said one player who did not want to be named, "There are going to be more fights this season, watch. Why the (players) agreed to (increased testing) is beyond me. How many people, other than those who drive for a living, are taking four drug tests in seven months?"
Doesn't sound like our Doug
One report out of the Dallas area cited former Kings guard Doug Christie, who signed with the Mavs as a free agent this summer, as a potential problem in the locker room if he is not utilized to his satisfaction. Wow. That comes from Christie's problems in Orlando last season after being traded by Sacramento in the deal that brought Mobley to the Kings.
Just goes to show how one incident can shape and influence the way some observers view a player, regardless of how he or she might have performed over a long period. Christie was the consummate professional for 4 1/2 seasons while in a Sacramento uniform. By the way, he'll make his first appearance at Arco Arena since the trade Tuesday in the first preseason game for each team.
The unknown factor
News that Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire could miss the rest of training camp because of a knee injury brings to mind the fact that preseason predictions could be the biggest waste in the history of newsprint.
Injuries - and this serves only as a reminder to Kings fans - can affect a team far more than anything else.
By Martin McNeil
The National Basketball Players Association negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA owners this summer and had union members vote on it.
It passed easily, but it's now coming to light that the players were voting on at least two issues that had not been completely worked out. Exactly what they received in lieu of these concessions remains in question, but let's hope it was a somewhat equitable trade.
The league and NBPA are believed to be working on a new dress code that is expected to be instituted. The code could make it mandatory for players to wear sportcoats and slacks (no jeans) in yet-to-be-determined situations such as flights, postgame interviews and on the bench when not dressed for games.
In the grand scheme, the concept hardly is earth-shattering. Some observers, including more than a few players, agree with the move.
Clearly, the NBA is attempting to reshape its image, as it always has and always will. Last season, the league took a step in that direction by fining players for wearing what it sees as inappropriate attire in meetings with reporters. Former Kings guard Cuttino Mobley was one of the first to irk the league for wearing a skull cap (with a team logo) while doing a video interview.
Mobley, one of the league's sharpest dressers, usually can be found wearing a suit. However, that was not enough.
Certainly there are others, including some players, who have a problem with the league telling men how they should dress. And some have an issue with the league determining what is acceptable in terms of the image it is attempting to portray. Cannot a player or person look smooth and clean in a stylish shirt and a pair of jeans, which reportedly will be a no-go? Moreover, it seems as if the parameters of this arrangement and every other new issue should have been spelled out before it was put to a vote for ratification.
Other issues of the new CBA to keep an eye on are the ability of teams to send first-year players and those with less than two years of NBA experience to the NBA Development League, the expansion of drug testing from once during training camp to four times a season and the establishment of an age limit to enter the NBA draft.
With each NBADL squad being allocated players from four teams, there could be major disagreements on how those players are coached and utilized, as well as which systems coaches will use.
Asked Kings coach Rick Adelman, "What happens if every team sends only power forwards? Hopefully, next year there will be more teams and there will be just two NBA teams affiliated with each."
It could be a different twist on how players will be affected by increased drug testing, but some players wonder if there will be more stressed-out ballers this season.
Said one player who did not want to be named, "There are going to be more fights this season, watch. Why the (players) agreed to (increased testing) is beyond me. How many people, other than those who drive for a living, are taking four drug tests in seven months?"
Doesn't sound like our Doug
One report out of the Dallas area cited former Kings guard Doug Christie, who signed with the Mavs as a free agent this summer, as a potential problem in the locker room if he is not utilized to his satisfaction. Wow. That comes from Christie's problems in Orlando last season after being traded by Sacramento in the deal that brought Mobley to the Kings.
Just goes to show how one incident can shape and influence the way some observers view a player, regardless of how he or she might have performed over a long period. Christie was the consummate professional for 4 1/2 seasons while in a Sacramento uniform. By the way, he'll make his first appearance at Arco Arena since the trade Tuesday in the first preseason game for each team.
The unknown factor
News that Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire could miss the rest of training camp because of a knee injury brings to mind the fact that preseason predictions could be the biggest waste in the history of newsprint.
Injuries - and this serves only as a reminder to Kings fans - can affect a team far more than anything else.