August 19, 2011
More players are considering China as a backup
The Chinese Basketball Association will restrict contracted NBA players from playing for domestic teams in the event the NBA season is canceled, but will still allow free agents, although it will force the players to stay all season long.
By Stephen Lars
At one point or another, it seems that the NBA is a little too optimistic in regards to the current lockout that is not only threatening to cut the preseason and the regular season short, but that could very well mean there will be no NBA tournament this year. On the one hand, the NBA has published its preseason schedule, but truth is, the team owners and the NBA Players Association is far away from reaching an agreement on the terms of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Earlier today, Chinese news reports stated that Shanxi Zhongyu’s basketball team owner Wang Xing Jiang said that the Los Angeles Lakers star
As of now, it really seems that the only player focusing on the next season is LeBron James. He has come out and said publicly that he has been training extensively during that off season and even taking one-on-one coaching with Hakeem Olajuwon, to improve his performance for this upcoming season. He feels that he failed the Miami Heat when his team needed him most against the Mavericks during the finals. He probably did, but what matters to this story is that it seems as if LeBron James knows something about the new CBA negotiations that we don’t, because it seems he is the only NBA star not looking for options abroad.
The reports have now extended to other players. Earlier today, Chinese news reports stated that Shanxi Zhongyu’s basketball team owner Wang Xing Jiang said that the Los Angeles Lakers star, Kobe Bryant, had agreed to signing terms with Shanxi and would start practicing with the team Oct. 1. A few hours later, sources close to the situation have said that Bryant hasn’t yet decided on any team nor has he made any decision to play overseas. He is currently weighting various options. Let’s not forget that Kobe has also has been heavily courted by the Turkish team Besiktas that has signed New Jersey's Deron Williams to play in Istanbul during the ongoing NBA lockout.
The Chinese Basketball Association had been discussing during the previous days whether to allow NBA players to join Chinese clubs temporarily, with an opt-out clause that activates when the NBA's lockout ends. Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul were among the players who had said they would consider playing in China if the NBA's labor dispute drags on and results in the cancellation of all or part of the season. But the most recent news release coming from the Chinese Basketball Association is giving us quite a different scenario.
In the latest reports, the Chinese Basketball Association will restrict contracted NBA players from playing for domestic teams in the event the NBA season is canceled, but will still allow free agents, state media reported Friday. So what this means is that those big name players like Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony are going to have to let the Chinese season go. Now, on the other hand, Chinese teams would allow free agents into their domestic league, but it also said that it would be mandatory to stay for the whole season. The Chinese Basketball Association has said they are not going to allow opt-out clauses in any contract signed by NBA players.
Rumor has it that more restrictions would be announced before the start of the Chinese season on Nov. 20. For all we know, contracts would be designed to discourage players from ducking out for dubious reasons.
About the Author
Stephen Lars is a prominent sports blogger and currently covers the Sports news, previews and handicaps for the BetIAS Sportsbook. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.