Players Keeping Busy During NBA Lockout

Anyone who has ever been between jobs, or laid off, knows the waiting and uncertainty is the hardest part. Well, that and the sudden loss of income, or future loss of income as is the case with the NBA players during the lockout, most players will not miss checks until November. Cleveland fans like myself
along with every other NBA fan around the country, are simply losing entertainment, for players and owners the stakes are a lot higher.

Between the stalemate this lockout has become, and the fact that players are on their own for the time being, makes it a tricky situation for all involved. Without being able to keep on top of the players training schedule there is the possibility of a repeat of what happened to former Cleveland coach Mike Fratello in 1997. After signing a seven-year, $98 million deal in the spring with a fit Shawn Kemp, Fratello was shocked to see Kemp show up for training camp weighing in excess of 300 pounds. This is a risk the teams are taking.

How hard do players continue to train when they have no idea when or if they will be playing ball this season. It's a challenge for life in a lockout. Not only are the coaches not allowed to have any contact with the players, agents or family members, the players are left without access to facilities or perks veteran players have become accustomed to. "At the end of the day, the league wants it to be difficult [for the players]," one executive said in a Sports Illustrated article. "It's like getting kicked out of a club."

Some players are looking at overseas opportunities. Kobe Byrant is talking to Besiktas, a Turkish basketball team. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar would be allowed to return to the Lakers when the NBA lockout ends. Derron Williams of the New Jersey Nets reportedly already signed a deal worth between $200,000 and $350,000 a month.

Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves, is taking his talents to the beach, not the South Beach Cavs fans learned to hate, no, Love is headed to the Manhattan Beach, California to play in the Manhattan Beach Open August 26-28. The NBA's leading rebounder is going to take a stab at this professional beach volleyball tournament. It's a good way to stay in shape and possibly go home with the $200,000 grand prize.

Baron Davis, the newly acquired Cavalier guard continues to make wise choices.
"With all I've been through this year, losing my grandmother, I felt like I need to start taking paths to better myself at this point in my life," Davis said. "Get back in a college atmosphere. Even if there is a lockout, I look at what opportunity do I have to get something accomplished that I want to accomplish in my life, you know?"

Davis left UCLA twelve years ago as a sophmore to start his NBA career. He has decided it is time to finish up his degree. Davis said, "As long as the lockout is going on, I'm going to keep myself in school, keep me from spending money and doing other stuff. This is like a full-time thing for me right now."

The Cavs made a good choice by bringing Davis on board. Regardless of how much time he stays in Cleveland, he is making strides to improve not simply the team, by setting up lockout workouts, but the community with his work with children, and now himself through education.



More by Sylvie Branch:
Can the NBA follow the NFL and end the lockout already?

NBA Lockout has begun
NBA lockout renders draft irrelevant
NBA Draft behind us, Cleveland moves forward