Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Ben Gordon talked to Jonathan Abrams for Grantland. Brian Packey of SB Nation's Pistons blog Detroit Bad Boys points out one hell of an interesting quote from the guard.
When the NBA announced the lockout, they sent a letter out that said staff members from the team are not allowed to have contact, et cetera, et cetera. Number nine on the letter pretty much says any serious injury you might acquire while the lockout is going on can void your contract. So right now, my risk tolerance is pretty low.
This is pretty astounding, considering that players get injured every offseason -- in workouts, in scrimmages, in international competition. (Ask Elton Brand, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Francisco Garcia, Tyreke Evans, Tony Parker, Rodrigue Beaubois, etc.)
We're checking with the NBA to find out whether that letter went directly to players or if Gordon copped it from a team employee before the lockout was officially on. Either way, this seems rather dicey.
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That doesn't make a ton of sense.
I would think Gordon is inferring this.
Words of wisdom from the great Billy Dee Williams
Oh so you disagree. Well then, here is a mature, sophisticated, and compelling rebuttal.
by wallywagon11 on Aug 17, 2011 11:38 AM EDT reply actions
The level of detail
“Number nine on that list …” makes me think he’s being more exacting. We’ll see.
by Tom Ziller on Aug 17, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
He also was quoting as saying number nine "pretty much says" so it's hard to call it an explicit threat to the players, especially considering it was not written to the players.
Regardless of the whole explicit threat angle though …. Either way, it is and has been the NBA’s position all along that if a player gets injured they can void the contract. That is why in fact that Billy Hunter himself advised in his mid July letter that anyone signing overseas needs to make sure to get insurance. It’s why you won’t see Amare signing to play in Isreal. So long as you can get it, it will cost you between $50,000 and $1 million for one FIBA season depending on whether you are getting a temporary policy or permanent (and how long the season lasts since you might jump ship midway). With FIBA’s current stance, players contracts are safe so long as they get insurance.
Words of wisdom from the great Billy Dee Williams
Oh so you disagree. Well then, here is a mature, sophisticated, and compelling rebuttal.
by wallywagon11 on Aug 17, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
ug
*quoted
Words of wisdom from the great Billy Dee Williams
Oh so you disagree. Well then, here is a mature, sophisticated, and compelling rebuttal.
by wallywagon11 on Aug 17, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
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