CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Bobcats are trying to get as much work in as possible before a potential lockout. Some of their ambitious plans, however, have been nixed by the NBA.
As a slimmed-down Stephen Jackson leads a parade of players in town for workouts, coach Paul Silas said Tuesday night the NBA turned down Charlotte’s plans to host a multiteam, free-agent camp before a potential July 1 lockout.
The Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks were scheduled to bring free agents and possibly draft picks to Time Warner Cable Arena. The teams had even reserved hotel rooms for the series of workouts and scrimmages at the facility before plans changed.
“The league wouldn’t let us do it,” Silas said.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said it would have been too similar to July’s summer leagues.
NBA commissioner David Stern and players union executive director Billy Hunter will meet today in Miami as they try to keep the league from becoming the second U.S. sport with a work stoppage.
