Hundreds of millions of dollars are sitting there, waiting to be transferred from NBA owners’ bank accounts to players’.
Several teams have agreed in principle on free-agency deals. But the consummation will have to wait. The league and players union have pushed back the original deadline of this Friday to allow more time to finalize their new collective bargaining agreement.
No date has been set, but NBA spokesman Tim Frank said in an e-mail the two sides are “making steady progress toward finalizing” their deal. The original signing date was already one week later than normal to allow the details of the CBA, which was agreed upon in late June, to be worked out.
The extra delay should do little to change most business around the league.
“For the last week or so everyone has expected it, but I don’t think it really affects us,” Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. “The one decision we had to make in this period was on Voshon Lenard, and that’s already over.”
The Nuggets opted not to buy out Lenard’s contract.
Agent Bill Duffy said the wait would not affect his free agents either.
The signing period will not begin before next week, though it may take until early August to iron out final details.
Footnote
Duffy said he remains in contact with the Nuggets, who count among four or five clubs vying for the services of Los Angeles Clippers restricted free-agent guard Marko Jaric.
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
