The Long, Depressing NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Fight Begins

As we've trudged through this NBA season, the story to watch for down the road is the upcoming expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2011. It was widely assumed that owners would push for dramatic changes, even if it meant a potential lockout.

Now, via CBS Sportsline's Ken Berger, we have some details on what the owners are thinking. And they're not pretty.

Launching a grim opening salvo in what are expected to be contentious labor talks, NBA owners have sent their initial proposal to the NBA Players Association and are pushing for some elements of a "hard" salary cap as well as a drastic reduction in player salaries, CBSSports.com has learned.

The proposal, sent to the union earlier this week, seeks a reduction in the players' share of basketball-related income from 57 percent to well below 50 percent, according to a person familiar with the document. Owners also are seeking some elements of a hard cap -- a departure from the current luxury-tax system -- and a reduction in the length and amount of max contracts.

Well then. Something tells me the Players Association won't be too keen on these conditions. This is only a first proposal, but let's just say that things are not off to a good start if you're an NBA fan worried about an impending lockout.