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29th November 2011, 04:24
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_china_nba_players_112811
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The Chinese Basketball Association is showing no inclination to let unhappy NBA players out of their contracts for the 2011-12 season, and will likely mandate they not receive clearance letters to return to the NBA until the Chinese season ends in March, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Wilson Chandler(notes), Kenyon Martin(notes), J.R. Smith(notes) and Aaron Brooks(notes) are the four top NBA players under contract in China, and several sources involved in those contract entanglements said escape clauses wont be allowed with the impending end of the NBA lockout.
The Chinese Basketball Association passed a rule that its teams could sign only NBA free agents during the lockout, and it was made clear to those players they would have to play the full season to be given FIBA clearance letters to sign contracts with NBA teams.
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J.R. Smith is one of three Nuggets free agents playing in China.
(NBAE/Getty Images)
Smith has had multiple clashes with his team, and some Chinese officials fear players becoming obstinate and purposely missing practices and games once they realize theyll be held to their contracts.
Team officials have prepared for the possibility some players could try to force their way out of deals, but their contracts give teams the latitude to fine and suspend players without pay. Chinese teams invested heavily when they signed NBA players, also providing hotel suites, personal drivers and chefs to make the players more comfortable.
They can play, get paid [in China] and return to the NBA in March, one Chinese team official said. Or they can not get paid, and return to the NBA in March.
As a member of FIBA, the NBA needs a letter of clearance from Chinese teams to allow players to sign NBA deals. Chinese teams could face forfeiture of any games that NBA players participated in, if the players somehow end up back in the NBA before the Chinese season ends.
If they think that theyre going to make things difficult, not play, create problems, whats going to happen is that the teams will not release their letters of clearance theyll need to sign in the NBA, a Chinese Basketball Association official told Yahoo! Sports. Theres no way out.
tweet232
The Chinese Basketball Association is showing no inclination to let unhappy NBA players out of their contracts for the 2011-12 season, and will likely mandate they not receive clearance letters to return to the NBA until the Chinese season ends in March, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Wilson Chandler(notes), Kenyon Martin(notes), J.R. Smith(notes) and Aaron Brooks(notes) are the four top NBA players under contract in China, and several sources involved in those contract entanglements said escape clauses wont be allowed with the impending end of the NBA lockout.
The Chinese Basketball Association passed a rule that its teams could sign only NBA free agents during the lockout, and it was made clear to those players they would have to play the full season to be given FIBA clearance letters to sign contracts with NBA teams.
More From Adrian Wojnarowski
Committee could study NBA draft rule Nov 27, 2011
Specifics of NBA's proposed labor deal Nov 26, 2011
J.R. Smith is one of three Nuggets free agents playing in China.
(NBAE/Getty Images)
Smith has had multiple clashes with his team, and some Chinese officials fear players becoming obstinate and purposely missing practices and games once they realize theyll be held to their contracts.
Team officials have prepared for the possibility some players could try to force their way out of deals, but their contracts give teams the latitude to fine and suspend players without pay. Chinese teams invested heavily when they signed NBA players, also providing hotel suites, personal drivers and chefs to make the players more comfortable.
They can play, get paid [in China] and return to the NBA in March, one Chinese team official said. Or they can not get paid, and return to the NBA in March.
As a member of FIBA, the NBA needs a letter of clearance from Chinese teams to allow players to sign NBA deals. Chinese teams could face forfeiture of any games that NBA players participated in, if the players somehow end up back in the NBA before the Chinese season ends.
If they think that theyre going to make things difficult, not play, create problems, whats going to happen is that the teams will not release their letters of clearance theyll need to sign in the NBA, a Chinese Basketball Association official told Yahoo! Sports. Theres no way out.