The NBA and the players union officially ended the 204
day lockout yesterday by signing off on the new, six-year
CBA, which was agreed upon two weeks ago, according to Peter
May of the BOSTON GLOBE. The signing "was not without
contention," as the union "won the battle" over how many
years (six) a player could be signed out of the $1.75M
"middle-class" exception available to teams over the salary
cap. The league "will officially reopen for business" today
at 2:00pm ET, triggering what "may well be the most active
day in terms of player movement in sports history" (BOSTON
GLOBE, 1/21). USA TODAY's Roscoe Nance writes that "snags
developed" on the final CBA when the NBA "insisted on having
discipline authority over agents involved in salary-cap
circumvention." Another "point of contention" included
whether bonus money would be factored into trade
calculations. The results of these differences "were not
released" (USA TODAY, 1/21). One league official said that
player signings and trades "will be happening rapid-fire.
Teams will be talking to agents, players will be meeting
their new teammates" (Mike Wise, N.Y. TIMES, 1/21).
THE WORM TURNS: Bulls free agent Dennis Rodman posted a
message on his Internet site that said "he would play" this
season. Rodman: "I've been reviewing my options and those
options include playing in the NBA this season with a
contender. Chicago, New York and L.A. are all cities I'd
like to play in. Playing overseas could be pretty cool,
too." Rodman will appear on "Tonight Show" tomorrow where
he will speak more on his career (WASHINGTON POST, 1/21).
Agent Dwight Manley, on reports that he is no longer
Rodman's agent: "I'm still his agent. There's nothing else
I'm willing to say at this point" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/21).
ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS: Nets C Jayson Williams will
donate "about" $20,000 to concession workers at Continental
Airlines Arena to make up for money lost due to the lockout.
After Williams signs his new six-year, $85.8M deal, he'll
make the donation, to be split among vendors (Mult., 1/21).
