Pope of Basketball.

Summary

In mid-September, NBA labor negotiations failed again as owners pushed for a hard salary cap to ensure fair competition. This cap would limit team spending, potentially benefiting small-market teams and increasing overall competitiveness. Many believe the league was more exciting in the past when teams had fewer superstars. Currently, the disparity between strong and weak teams is significant, with wealthy teams able to buy championships, unlike in the NFL, which has a hard salary cap. Players, led by union president Derek Fisher, oppose a hard cap, emphasizing unity and resistance to pay cuts. Negotiations continued to stall in early October, leading to the cancellation of training camps and games. By November 26, a 149-day lockout ended with an agreement for a fluctuating revenue share of 49%-51%, resulting in a shortened 66-game season. The league faced significant financial losses, and teams began reshaping their rosters in December. Notable player movements included the Knicks re-signing Greg Oden and adding Mike Bibby, while the Clippers let go of marginal players. Deng Li Wei declined to stay with the Clippers, seeking a more significant role elsewhere.

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