[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
NBA Rookies In Lockout Limbo
[ ] [Image]
November 3, 1998
NBA's rookie crop is trying hard to cope with
life in limbo
The Sixers' Larry Hughes and others are all
dressed up, but for now, because of the lockout,
they have no place to go.
By Stephen A. Smith
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
First his hand covered his mouth. A yawn ensued.
For Larry Hughes, the 76ers' top draft pick last
summer, the excitement didn't begin until a
camera crew arrived.
The atmosphere of lights, cameras and little
action typified Hughes' autumn -- photo shoots,
interviews, one-on-none basketball, then home to
bed.
"Welcome to life without NBA basketball," the
rookie guard said, sighing. "Man, I can't wait
to start playing."
Under normal circumstances, Hughes would have
been starting his NBA career tonight in
Washington, where the Sixers were scheduled to
meet the Wizards to open their 1998-99 season.
But instead of dribbling, shooting or showing
any of the other skills that made him the No. 8
pick in June's draft, Hughes will, along with
410 other players, remain on the sideline.
All of them will miss games and paychecks, with
each praying that a resolution of the ongoing
lockout will be a part of his Thanksgiving
celebration.
"That's certainly what I'm hoping for," said
rookie forward Raef LaFrentz, drafted third
overall by the Denver Nuggets. "None of us can
wait, really. We just know we have to. In the
meantime, I'm just working out, staying in
shape, hoping a deal gets done now. What else
can I do?"
The answer? Nothing. Neither the league nor the
players union has presented an alternative.
LaFrentz and Hughes were in the area recently
for photo shoots at Haverford College to
publicize And-1 sneakers and clothing, as were
three second-round picks -- Shammond Williams
(out of North Carolina), Miles Simon (Arizona)
and Toby Bailey (UCLA).
Meanwhile, lawyers for both the NBA and the
National Basketball Players Association met
yesterday, only to admit later that they had
accomplished nothing. Since the idea of a hard
salary cap was taken off the table two weeks ago
by the league, little ground has been gained on
several issues, including a luxury tax, an
escrow account, and a set percentage of
basketball-related income (BRI). In fact, things
apparently have gotten worse in the last 24
hours.
The owners, looking for cost certainty, have
proposed a 50-50 split of BRI with the players.
The union has responded by reducing its demand
from 63 percent to 60 percent.
As for other issues, neither side would
elaborate. But each said that an agreement was
not close.
"We've heard numerous reports that we're close
to making a deal," said Billy Hunter, the
union's executive director, responding to
published reports that a deal would be done
within a week. "That is just not true.
"I don't know where the information came from
that would serve as a representation for that,
but I can tell you right now, that isn't so. We
met [ yesterday ] with lawyers on the other side
for about 2[Image] hours who called to discuss
secondary issues. We made little or no progress
on those issues. We feel we're further apart
than we were a week ago."
Then Hunter added that he expected the season to
start in January. "Nothing has changed from last
week," Russ Granik, the NBA's deputy
commissioner, said in a statement after Hunter's
teleconference. "The union agreed that the NBA
had the right to reopen the contract if player
compensation reached 52 percent. The percentage
we paid to players last season soared to 57
percent, and the players' best offer so far is
that they be paid 60 percent.
"We agree with Mr. Hunter that we are not close
[ to getting a deal done ] ."
Meanwhile, the rookies stay in shape, shoot
baskets, lift weights, and try to find some good
pickup games.
"Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera," said Simon,
who was picked by Orlando. "For us, it's
basically the same thing. Myself and Toby [
Bailey ] both play a lot in Los Angeles, so it's
not that hard for us."
Staying fit in L.A. shouldn't be hard,
considering that Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal
and other former or present Lakers, along with
members of the Clippers, frequently work out on
UCLA's campus.
"But it's got to be hard for some of the other
guys," said Bailey, picked by the Lakers before
they traded his rights to Phoenix.
"I played at UCLA, so it's not hard for me to
get myself in game shape. But what about other
rookies who don't have that luxury? If I stay in
shape and get good runs in, I'll be better
prepared. That's about the only advantage I
have."
It's more than some other rookies have at the
moment.
©1998 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.