Too many obstacles to negotiate an end to the lockout in three days?

Friday November 25. Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas just 30 days, the date indicated in red by commissioner David Stern for months. The NBA wants to save Christmas parties and said that it takes 30 days to put in place following the League symbolic handshake between owners and players act out the end of the lockout. Ie key weekend to try to end the lockout. Otherwise, if no agreement before Monday, the season will almost certainly blow up despite the 98-99 season the lockout was resolved on January 7 and began to play a 50-game league reduced one month after.

After resuming negotiations on a quiet and unobtrusive on Tuesday, representatives of the owners and players sit right again when the following 148 days of lockout. Starting today opens a decisive period of 72 hours for the two parties reach an agreement before the justice involved in the antitrust lawsuit filed by several players after dissolving the union via " disclaimer of interest '.

If you reach an agreement in principle, the players union has to be rebuilt in order to sign a collective agreement and forget and demands. But for this to be possible, there are several hot spots on the table to be treated. The list of disagreements is almost bigger than the agreements to be reached before the dissolution of the union.

Any agreement between both parties for a new CBA sharing pivot around 50-50 on the BRI . Something that players have agreed, calling for a series of concessions in return and there are the five main points of friction :

· Rate of luxury . The owners want a more punitive than the current dollar for dollar. The idea is to increase the fine to 1.75 dollar the first $ 5 million. Every dollar of the next 5 million will be accompanied by a fine of 2.25 to 2.75 will go up from 10 million and to 3.25 in the next section.

· Escrow . It is a percentage of the salary of the player who holds every franchise every year to ensure agreement is reached on the sharing of fixed BRI at the end of the season. If the sum of salary exceeds the percentage of the cast of players, franchises retain the 'escrow', if not exceed, that amount (total or partial) is returned to the player. The owners now want to retain a percentage of salary to be determined the players.

· Mid-level exception. The existing agreement for the 'midlevel exception' of 5 million annually for four seasons happen to be 3 million a year and a maximum of three campaigns. But the owners want to ban the teams to pay the luxury tax may use this exception to sign. Yes they could have a reduced version.

· Years of contract. The NBA wants to reduce the maximum duration of contracts. Under the latest agreement, players are entitled to an increase of 10.5% for those players who are under the "Larry Bird exception 'and 8.5% for others. The players have agreed to reduce this percentage to 7.5 and 6.5 respectively. The League is offering a 5.5 to 3%.

· 'Sign and trade' and 'extend and trade'. The NBA wants to ban the teams paying the luxury tax can perform 'renewal and transfer', although they would in the first year of the agreement. Also want to ban a 'extend and trade' (extension and transfer) in the last year of the contract of a player like Carmelo Anthony has happened to last season. As noted Sheridanhoops.com the main victims in this operation would be Deron Williams (Nets) and Dwight Howard (Magic). Both could be transferred this season but his new equipment could not renew before the summer market as unrestricted free agents.

With this in mind, we must take into account the latest information provided by Chris Broussard, ESPN , in terms of requests / demands from players to owners at the meeting which starts on Friday: · Mid-level exception each year complete and contracts for four seasons of life. And the so-called 'mini mid level' for teams who pay the luxury tax is greater · A 10% ' escrow 'maximum. · 'Sign and trade' for all teams for the duration of the new CBA · A rate luxury less punitive than the proposed ' superlevy ' · The maximum salary is 30% of the salary cap and not 25% as now · Increase the 'qualifying offer' to retain restricted free agents. This is the bid submitted by teams to ensure the right of first refusal