What is the new CBA deal with NBPA? Taking a look at impact on players, teams and future
Several reports have confirmed that the NBA and the NBPA have agreed a new collective bargaining agreement. The new CBA will last for seven years and starts next season. However, both sides have an early opt-out after the sixth year.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported that the league and the players' association agreed to extend Friday's early opt-out deadline to Saturday. Wojnarowski noted that a new deal was imminent before it was confirmed by Friday night.
The new CBA will prevent any kind of lockout or work stoppage for the rest of the decade. The last lockout happened in 2011, wherein it lasted for five months. There have been three other lockouts in NBA history, all of which happened in the 1990s.
New CBA includes in-season tournament, minimum game requirement for awards and more
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added a few details from the new CBA between the NBA and the NBA Players Association. There will now be an in-season tournament, which has been discussed by Adam Silver over the past two years.
This tournament will start next season, as per Shams Charania of The Athletic. The winning team will receive a cash prize of $500,000 per player.
The rumored framework of the in-season tournament from earlier this season was that all the games will be part of the 82-game regular season. It will be held throughout November, and eight teams will advance to the knockouts. The two finalists will have an additional regular season game, taking their total to 83.
Another part of the new CBA is the minimum game requirement for major end-of-season awards. Players can only qualify if they play 65 games or more in the regular season.
Charania noted a couple more provisions from the new deal, which includes a second tax apron that can nullify a team's taxpayer mid-level exception, veteran extension limits going from 120% to 140% and a third two-way contract.
Impact of new CBA on players, teams and future
The new in-season tournament could freshen up the NBA, especially with teams looking to add new silverware to their trophy cabinets. Players will receive a cash incentive, but not superstars or high-earning players.
It could also increase the interest among fans, given all the criticism the league has received this season from bad calls, superstar trade demands and load management.
Meanwhile, the game limit for major awards makes sense, as you can't really reward players for not playing enough games. A third two-way contract helps teams manage their roster better, especially with the number of injuries happening in the league.
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Juan Paolo David