NBA, Union Progressing Toward New CBA; Draft Age Limit Among Key Issues

The NBA and players union have made progress toward a new collective-bargaining agreement with the opt-out deadline just weeks away, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

With either side able to opt out on March 31, both the league and union have made it clear they hope to reach a deal and avoid a potential work stoppage at the end of next season.

“We want to finish this deal soon and certainly want this wrapped up before the (March 31) deadline,” a high-ranking union source told Charania. “It’s close — we need to dot the I’s and cross the T’s.”

Among the most pressing issues are new luxury-tax tiers that penalize teams when they go over the salary cap. This will include a rule that will “increase the lower tier and make it more viable for teams to spend money into the tax,” Charania wrote.

Other “core” negotiating points center around the following, per Charania:

• The issues of load management and star players sitting out games when healthy.
• The regional sports networks that broadcast games of 16 teams, owned by Diamond Sports and operated under the Bally Sports name. Diamond is filing for bankruptcy, as we relayed here.
• Lowering the NBA Draft age limit and allowing players to be drafted right out of high school. Not all veterans are in favor, by the way. (Full post.)
• Increasing extension limits on contracts, “which would add flexibility and have significant effects incredibly quickly,” Charania wrote.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is heading negotiations for the league/owners, with union executive director Tamika Tremaglio doing the same for the players.

Sources: The NBA and NBPA are progressing in talks on reaching a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Full story at @TheAthletic on key issues such as luxury tax brackets, one-and-done rule, player extension limits and more: https://t.co/OPe3lC3hIC

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 27, 2023