The NBA holds a trump card in potentially locking out the players if they are unable to agree on terms of a new collective bargaining agreement. Many NBA players would be unable to withstand a work stoppage due to how their expenses are arranged.
The players are without a similar trump card unless they present a collective front for several superstars to play overseas.
Derek Fisher, president of the players association, said the union isn’t thinking in those terms yet.
“It’s a long way away,” said Fisher on Tuesday. “I can’t speak for what guys might do individually, but we’ll have some things planned — some things we’ll need to fall back on if things go a certain way. Right now we’re trying to stay focused on the positives and take advantage of there being a year and a half before we get down to doomsday.”
Marquee players could head to Europe's well-established teams, but one agent sees China as a potential wild card.
Bernie Lee, who represents John Lucas III of the Shanghai Sharks, envisions the Chinese Basketball Association joining together with shoe companies to create a viable business model to attract premier NBA players.
“You’d have guys making huge money, and open up marketing opportunities that just don’t exist in North America anymore,” he said. “I can’t imagine what would happen if you put Dwyane Wade in Beijing or Chris Bosh in Shanghai — the opportunities would be endless.”
