FanPost

Agents send open letter to urge players not to agree with ANY concessions

Via Michael Lee from the Washington Post. 

The agents essentially advise the players to not accept anything else than the old CBA staying completely intact.....

That's right. They are unreasonable and crazy and ruining our season. 

 

I'm pissed. Letter below below the jump. 

 

This letter was prepared by the agencies and agents listed below, and is being sent to all of 

the players they represent:

 

Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group

Bill Duffy of BDA Sports

Dan Fegan of Lagardere Unlimited

Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management

Leon Rose and Henry Thomas of Creative Artists Agency

Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports and Entertainment

 

Dear Player,

I am writing to you because the negotiations between the NBPA and NBA owners are at a critical 

stage.  You must take action and protect your rights.

Your Voice Must be Heard

Any deal you and the owners agree upon will have a major impact on you, your family, and 

your career.  

 

Educate yourself on the specifics of the negotiations and proposals that have been made.

Demand a full vote by all players on any proposed deal between the players and owners.

Contact the NBPA to ask questions and speak out about the issues that will directly 

impact you and your family.

 

The Current Proposal Hurts Your Earning Potential

The NBA demands deep cuts and major "givebacks" that will cripple your earning potential

and the earning potential of every future NBA player.  

 

The NBPA offered to reduce the players’ share of BRI from 57% to 52%.  This will 

result in a transfer of over $200 million per year or a minimum of $500,000 per player

back to the owners.

 

o This results in at least 8% or more of your salary being withheld by the owners 

each season through the escrow withholding.  This  applies to  all  contracts, 

including contracts signed before the lockout.  You may never receive this 

money back.

 

The owners demand mandatory reductions in all player salaries in addition to the escrow 

withholding, including "claw backs" from all existing contracts by as much as 10% per 

year.  

 

o With an 8% escrow and a 10% "claw back," each player will likely return 15 -

20% of his salary to the owners at the end of each season.  

 

A reduction of the players’ share of BRI to 52% will result in severe restrictions on free 

agency and your ability to obtain your true market value.

 

o Every NBA team’s Salary Cap will be significantly reduced, leaving teams with 

much less Salary Cap room to sign free agents.

 

o Teams will possess all of the leverage because there will be  fewer teams 

competing for your services.o Players will compete against each other for shorter and smaller contracts than 

the contracts that were available under past systems.

o A reduced salary cap reduces the Maximum Salary. 

 

o The NBA demands a reduction in the Mid-Level Exception salary and contract 

length as well as new limitations on Bird rights.  This will severely restrict 

usage of these very important exceptions and harm your ability to negotiate a fair 

contract.   

 

Refuse Any Deal that Excludes the Players from the Explosive Growth of the NBA

The owners demand a long term  deal with the players but  do not want to share in the 

tremendous growth and success of the league over the past six seasons.  

Over the past six seasons:

 

o The NBA enjoyed record attendance, sky-rocketing television ratings, and ever 

increasing television rights deals;

 

o NBA franchise values have continued to escalate and set records (compare the 

sales of the past six years to previous sales); and

 

o International growth is rapid and constant with a growing worldwide television 

audience and more games played internationally.

 

During the 2010-11 season, the NBA experienced its highest revenues ever.

Demand to see the complete financial records of the owners over the past six seasons, 

including their related entities (such as regional sports networks and arenas).

 

Never Respond to Ultimatums or Threats– Stand Strong for Your Principles

The owners will threaten a doomsday scenario, but you must not yield to their ultimatums or 

threats. 

 

The NBA seeks unprecedented and unjustified changes to the collective bargaining 

agreement.  

 

Do not acknowledge "scare tactics" and fight to achieve your goals.  You fought your 

entire life to reach the NBA and must not let your right to receive fair compensation be 

taken from you now.

 

Careers are short with limited time to maximize your earnings and limited opportunities 

to share in the money you help generate for the league.  If you don’t fight to preserve 

your rights now, you will pay the price in each pay check you receive for the rest of 

your career.It is your career, your family, your income, your future. What will you do? 

Participate in the Process and Protect your Individual Right to Bargain

 

When the time comes, you must demand that the NBPA submit any proposed agreement to 

a vote by all NBA players and provide every player with a reasonable amount of time to review 

and consider the proposed deal. We urge you now to become involved and  educate yourself.

Knowledge is power!  

 

  Contact the union to educate yourself and fight for what is important:

No further reduction of the percentage of BRI received by the players.

Maintain existing structure of the Bird and Mid-Level Exceptions.

No reduction in Maximum Salary from existing levels.

No reduction in Contract Length from existing levels.

No changes to Unrestricted Free Agency and improve Restricted Free Agency.

 

Any deal must include these points. Remember, it is not about when or how fast a deal is 

reached, it is about taking the time to secure the best deal.

 

We are here to support you. We  welcome the opportunity to address any questions or 

concerns you may have.  

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.