With antsy players eager to sign new deals, NBA lawyers could be working overtime this week.
Free agents were permitted to negotiate, but weren’t able to sign contracts until today because of the 19-day delay in finalizing the Collective Bargaining Agreement. More than 40 free agents are expected to sign contracts over the next few days.
“The only thing it really affected is that there is a lot of anxiety with the players, coaches and GMs who would like to get their team together,” said Milwaukee general manager Larry Harris, who is expected to sign several players. “You want to get these things done, out of the way and kind move on into the summer and see what you have left and are going to add.
“The first three days, maybe four at the most, they will be inundated at the league office. There will be a whole slew. Then there will be a calming time and a trickling in of second-tier free agents.”
Along with regular free-agent signings, there are expected to be several sign-and-trade deals. The most notable is expected to include guard Joe Johnson, who reportedly will sign a five-year, $70 million offer before being traded from Phoenix to Atlanta for guard Boris Diaw, two lottery-protected first-round picks and a trade exception in the $5 million range.
“We’re hopeful we can get something done,” Atlanta general manager Billy Knight said recently when asked if he expected to make a big move.
Teams engaging in sign-and- trades must take part in a conference call with NBA lawyers to finalize the deal under the new CBA. NBA teams had a conference call with the league Monday to go over details of the CBA.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
