The Lockout is about three weeks old, and I am already sick of it. The best thing about the off-season, I think - from a fan's point of view about the off-season, is keeping track of all the trades, and rumours of trades, and unhappy players. Thanks to the NBA Lockout, hardly any of that is happening, bar the selection of a new Chicago Bulls coach. As a fan, I want to see if the rumours about Sacramento wanting to ship new team member Chris Webber to the Lakers for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell are true. As a fan, I want to see if the Bulls will be back intact, or, if not, where Scottie Pippen will land. There are so many other quality free agents around, like Ike Austin (LA Clippers) and Antonio McDyess (Denver Nuggets) that I would prefer to see in other teams colours next season. I want to see the hype about Olowokandi, and see if I was right about Paul Pierce being a steal for Boston.
It's really hard to write at this time of the year. I have been surfing the Net and the only articles that I have been coming across have been negative ones, such as Isaiah Rider's and Latrell Sprewell's court appearances. That just puts a negative light on this wonderful sport, so I am going to avoid these topics. Instead, I am going to highlight the NBA's effect on another basketball nation.
Australia. The problems that the NBA are encountering with the ridiculous salaries players are demanding (see: Kevin Garnett) are just now filtering down to us here in Australia. One case in particular has gotten the teams all a-flutter recently. That of Sam MacKinnon (you may recognise him from Australia's Championship-winning Under 21's Team) signing with the Townsville Crocodiles (Townsville is located near the top pointy bit of Australia) for reportedly AUS$220,000, nearly US$137,000 based on current exchange rate. Now, before all of you laugh and say, that ain't much, not even the NBA minimum, I think the current maximum salary is around AUS$150,000 for Andrew Gaze, possibly Australia's best to ever play the game. Now, when you think that Gaze has been THE MAN on his team for years, and so have a couple of other players that you wouldn't recognise, and is not receiving that kind of salary, it makes you wonder. Also, the teams are getting worried because they can foresee the same thing happening in the future, and with only about three of the eleven teams making a profit, stability more than anything is an issue. I would hate to see the NBL lose even more clubs, just because they are fighting to keep their young talented players from leaving for the bigger city teams. This may be even more of an issue that since the salary cap will be shrinking by AUS$35,000 next year. Players may need more than just money to stay, like better training facilities and more television coverage, that will lead to a better advantage in making the transition to wither the NBA or a European club. The Canberra Cannons has players actively looking for other employers after asking them to take a pay cut. One of those is another Under 21's star, amazing shot-blocker Simon Dwight, who also declared for, but was turned down by, the NBA. But like MacKinnon, he is only young yet (22, MacKinnon is still only 21), and is a great player Down Under. Both of them will be in the NBA pretty soon.
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