On his "NBA Beat," ESPN's David Aldridge reported that
while the NBPA is "looking into" decertification should the
league reopen its CBA next summer, "the agents for several
high-profile players are concerned that decertifying may
invalidate the guaranteed contracts their players have."
Aldridge: "Lawyers are looking for precedence now, but if
they don't find an answer that's satisfactory, the NBA's
union could be without one of its most powerful arguments
when it goes back to the bargaining table" (ESPN, 12/15).
HOUSTON'S ROCKET: Charles Barkley appeared on ESPN's
"Up Close" on Monday. Barkley, on his talk of a boycott of
the All-Star Game and/or the World Championships: "I don't
even know if we're going to have to have a boycott, because
I think we are going to get locked out. I think there's no
question we're going to get locked out" (ESPN, 12/15).
OH SPIT! USA TODAY's Roscoe Nance writes the NBA "has
alerted teams it is cracking down on excessive use of
profanity by coaches and players." Offenders will be fined
$2,500 and could be suspended (USA TODAY, 12/16).