​NBA and Players Union Close to Seven-Year CBA Extension

NBA labor peace under commissioner Adam Silver will continue through at least 2022, according to a published report Monday at Yahoo Sports' The Vertical. An extension of the collective bargaining agreement between the owners and players union could last to 2023-24, if the mutual opt-outs are not exercised in '22.

Before CBA negotiations began in earnest in August 2015, players said the union would opt out of the current deal during a window that follows the 2016-17 season. What prompted the negotiations? Just a $24 billion TV deal the league signed in 2014.

That could have led to a strike after this season, or lockout at some point, but there will be no such need once an agreement is finalized. The NBA has not had a work stoppage since the 2010-2011 lockout which shortened the regular season to 66 games. Silver has been commissioner since 2014, replacing David Stern, who was in charge during four work stoppages of various lengths.

Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the biggest issues have already been agreed upon. From a report on Thursday, here's what they are:

The NBA's 30-something stars – including NBPA president Chris Paul, vice president LeBron James and executive committee member Carmelo Anthony – will benefit from the changing of the 36-and-over rule that now prohibits players from signing a five-year maximum contract if their 36th birthday occurs within the life of the deal.

The NBA and union have tentatively agreed to change the rule to over 38, league sources told The Vertical, which would have significant financial implications for superstars in the twilight of their careers.

Among the principles in agreement, the NBA's Basketball Related Income (BRI) split will remain unchanged in a new agreement, league sources said. The players receive a share in the range of 49 to 51 percent of the current BRI.

The NBA will raise rookie-scale, veteran minimum and free-agent exception deals in the new agreement, league sources said. Rises in those salaries could come in the 50 percent range over current numbers, sources said.

The NBA will keep its "one-and-done" rule with college basketball, retreating on its original desire to make college players wait two years after high school graduation to become eligible for the NBA draft, league sources said.

It's worth noting that NBA players used to get 57 percent of league revenues—then came the 2011 lockout. So, while the union seemed ready for revenge or takebacks or whatever after losing big in '11 when owners cried poor, players seem agreeable to keeping the same percentage of what they have, with an exception here or there. When there's so much money on the table, it's harder to make a case (or care) that you're still being exploited.

[Yahoo]