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NBA chief wants more balance after Durant move
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NATIONAL Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver said on Tuesday that the league might look at ways of maintaining competitive balance following Kevin Durant’s blockbuster move to join the Golden State Warriors.
Silver expressed concern at the signing which creates another super team and indicated that the NBA’s parity might be better served if changes were made to the collective bargaining agreement.
“Just to be absolutely clear, I do not think that’s ideal from the league standpoint,” Silver said of lopsided teams during a news conference at the league’s annual board of governors meeting.
Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign a two-year deal worth US$54 million to join the Warriors, creating another NBA powerhouse. Silver said in Los Angeles that Durant did not break any rules by exercising his right to change teams.
“I don’t think having two super teams is good for the league,” he said. “For me, part of it is designing a collective bargaining agreement that encourages the distribution of great players throughout the league.
“On the other hand, I absolutely respect a player’s right to become a free agent and in this case for Kevin Durant to make a decision that he feels is best for him.
“In a way, the good news is that we are in a collective bargaining cycle, so it gives everybody an opportunity — owners and the union — to sit behind closed doors and take a fresh look at the system and see if there is a better way that we can do it. My belief is we can make it better.”
The league’s current agreement runs through June 30, 2021. Either side can opt out June 30, 2017, if it notifies the other side by December 15.
Meanwhile, the NBA approved rule changes on fouls away from the ball, which could help reduce intentional fouling.
Previously, if a foul occurred away-from-the-play in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, it resulted in one free throw and possession of the ball. That rule has been extended to apply to the last two minutes of all quarters.
Intentionally fouling poor free throw shooters has become a frequent strategy of the game, an often criticized one, and the rule tweak will limit the opportunities for teams to use that ploy.
Frequently employed against former Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal, the strategy went on to be known as ‘Hack-a-Shaq’.
“In looking at the data and numerous potential solutions to combat the large increase in deliberate away-from-the-play foul situations, we believe these steps offer the most measured approach,” Kiki VanDeWeghe, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations said.
“The introduction of these new rules is designed to curb the increase in such fouls without eliminating the strategy entirely.”
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