The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) are hard at work trying to complete a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before the December 15 deadline.
Each team has a representative that makes himself available at necessary meetings during the process. The Houston Rockets chose Patrick Beverley as a co-representative, and he sounds optimistic early on.
Beverley is happy that a deal is close to being completed, but happier because new provisions will help less high-profile players like himself moving forward.
Most of the details have not been revealed yet, but a few simple provisions are sounding just like what the doctor ordered. One of the talked about provisions enables restricted free agents to sign contracts on the very first day of free agency. It will also reduce the match period where teams previously had one week to decide if they wanted to match outside offers or move on.
Another provision prohibits teams from rescinding qualifying offers.
That type of clause helps players like Donatas Motiejunas, who has been through free agent hell this year.
The NBA is changing in many ways and it isn’t all about larger contracts.
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Beverley sounds like he’s well on his way to relief thanks to the latest negotiations, as he spells it out for the Houston Chronicle:
“All due respect to all the superstars who are kind of the face of the league, me and Trev (Ariza, the Rockets co-player representative) talked about the glue guys, the utility guys that you need on your team, make the team possible.
“We know we're not out there scoring big points, but we do do other things that don't show on the stat sheet from a business and financial standpoint, we'd like to be rewarded for those things.
“According to the players' union, the new deal that is set in place helped the glue guys, the utility guys, the blue collar guys … to be able to benefit from this game also.
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