Wilson Chandler, Kenyon Martin and JR Smith all signed contracts to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The CBA is not allowing any opt-out clauses in contracts to NBA players. Chandler was a restricted free agent. Thus the Nuggets can't re-sign any of these players next season nor include them in a sign and trade. They will retain the restriced free agent rights for Chandler. We don't really have any Blazer free agents except for Oden who's restricted. I'd actually welcome the idea of Oden going over to China for a year while we retain his restricted free agent rights, but I doubt he could get a reasonable deal due to his large qualifying offer and current injury. Josh Childress left the NBA to play oversees while the Hawks retained his restricted free agent rights. When Childress came back to the NBA the Hawks traded him to the Suns. How fortunate for the owners the lockout is occuring in an offseason when Nene is the top free agent? Think if this had happened last year when Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Dirk, Amare, Boozer were all free agents.
Good point. They might be back in time for the playoffs. Scenario: The season starts in January or February. Karl hangs on at .450 until March 1 when the 3 players return. The Nuggets explode to .580, make the playoffs, and win the championship without losing one game. Damn, I wish we could lose 3 players to China too. Denver has all the luck.
The rumor is that the teams have a handshake deal simply to waive the players if/when the lockout ends, thus getting round the restriction.
Doesn't matter. There's most likely not going to be a season. And if so, they'll just walk away and laugh about it. They're NBA thugs.
