Knicks Journal Welcomes Back Its Readers!

Are you as excited as Spike to finally watch Knicks basketball again?!

After five months of what has become one of the longest summers for NBA fans, prayers have been answered, and everyone will be treated to a Christmas gift in the form of opening day games on December 25th.

By now you've heard the news that the NBA will officially lift its lockout and pump out a 66 game season, which will include 48 same conference games and 18 games against teams in the opposing conference for NBA teams.

While fans have simply been anxiously waiting for the season to finally begin, the players and the NBA have been working diligently to make sure a fair deal on a new CBA was accomplished for both sides. Specifics are still oozing out on the newly formed CBA, and rather than dive into the details just yet, let's take a look at some of the best links around the web exploring some bits and pieces of the (end of the) NBA lockout, as well as the most sizzling rumors surrounding the upcoming season.

For starters, ESPN New York takes an in-depth look at some of the more crucial provisions in the new CBA, such as the new Mid-level Exception, the "stretch" and "room" exceptions, as well as the "amnesty clause," which was famously first coined "The Allan Houston Rule," though the clause was almost just as famously NOT used on Houston. How do all of these things affect the Knicks' future plans? Click above to find out.

So, what about the Knicks future plans? Dating back to (then Denver Nuggets' star) Carmelo Anthony's wedding, rumors that a "Big Three" of Amar'e Stoudemire, 'Melo, and Chris Paul joining forces in New York have buzzed aloud for well over a year now. With a shortened season upcoming, 2012 free agency seems closer than ever, and speculation is abundant as its ever been.

The rumors are not only surrounding Paul and his fellow upcoming free agents, but also the teams likely to vie for their talents as well. Should a team like the Knicks accomplish the feat of landing Paul with their available cap space, what will come of some of their key role players who could stand to receive a bigger payday in the near future? Is there enough money to go around? My pal Tommy Dee from "The Knicks Blog" breaks down how New York may just be able to bring back one of their younger studs, along with Paul.

Are you one of those fans that just HATES rumors? Do you prefer to just cheer on whoever currently dons orange and blue and tune out everything else? The always humorous Seth Rosenthal at "Posting & Toasting" gives fans a peak at which of the Knicks' own free agents could be returning this season.

Regardless of what happens, who will be the man calling all the shots for the Knicks, now that Donnie Walsh is no longer team president? Alan Hahn has your answer to that question.

Hope you can all stay busy with this for now. On that note, the staff at Knicks Journal would like to thank all of its readers for standing by during the tedious lockout. We've shown our appreciation too, providing as much content as possible throughout before taking a short break through the November holidays. Make no mistake, with the NBA season so close that you can taste it, the coverage here will not cease!

Check back tomorrow for some original content and a curious look at which two former Knicks could be donning orange and blue once again in the near future.

The staff at Knicks Journal will be looking to expand in preparation for the upcoming season. If you are interested in contributing content this season, be it as an editorial writer or videographer, contact us on Twitter @KnicksJournal.

NBA Labor Talks Steamroll On Into Thursday

Despite the fact that the NBA set had a 5pm EST deadline on Wednesday for the Players Union to accept its latest offer (a 50-50 BRI split with a tighter/restricted system for the players), the two sides instead continued to negotiate Wednesday, with discussions lasting well into Thursday morning.

With ultimatums previously looming, many have to be thinking it be a positive notion that the two sides have continued to talk, being open to tweaking offers and working towards essentially playing some form of an NBA season. Though no significant progress was admitted to or for that matter, denied, talks will resume 12PM EST today.

Many sources told reporters that the negotiations have had the same dragged on, monotonous, feel to them as usual, which may allude to little progress being made. Neither side would confirm or deny that, but Commissioner David Stern did say the league chose to continue negotiating (as opposed to imposing its ultimatum) "to demonstrate our good faith."

Stern has been given permission by the owners to tweak their existing offer when and if he sees fit. The Players Union (though previously standing firm at a requested 51-49 BRI split) are reportedly using its willingness to accept a 50-50 split as a bargaining chip to receive compromises on a better system in return.

Former St. John's Star D.J. Kennedy to Play for Knicks D-League Team?

Ever so desperate to escape all the talk surrounding the NBA lockout and its labor negotiations? If you're looking for a basketball fix, Erie, Pennsylvania may have the solution for you.

While the NBA D-League may not exactly be the same high-powered basketball competition fans oh so desire and crave, the Knicks' direct affiliation with the Erie BayHawks may interest fans enough to keep up with the team as the NBA lockout steamrolls on.

Former Knicks great Allan Houston, the team's Assistant General Manager, serves as G.M. for the D-League squad as he continues to ready himself for a similar position with his former team in the future.

The BayHawks recently made a roster move that should certainly garner interest from passionate New York sports fans, inviting St. John's University standout D.J. Kennedy to training camp after Kennedy impressed during the team's free agent tryouts.

Kennedy starred for the Red Storm through his senior year last season in which he averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds before tearing his ACL.

Inviting Kennedy to camp, after having shown so much promise in the past, is a low-risk, high-reward type move for the BayHawks that would certainly give local fans a big reason to follow the team and root for Kennedy's success.

Though signing with the BayHawks does not directly affiliate Kennedy with the Knicks in any way just yet, a local fan's pipe-dream to see Kennedy on the Knicks would officially begin to form, should he prove he's fully recovered from the injury and subsequently take the court for the D-League squad.

The last Johnnie to don orange and blue was, of course, Lavor Postell, who struggled in limited time on the court after being drafted in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft. He did, however, played with the Knicks through 2003.

Without getting too ahead of ourselves, the idea of Kennedy potentially playing for the Knicks would likely be more celebrated than Postell, as expectations would obviously be lower given the situation, with the moment that Kennedy makes the Knicks being a major achievement in itself, should he find success in the D-League. There's no doubt the fans will be on his side.

On a related note, Kennedy's signing was first reported by my pal, Tommy Dee of "The Knicks Blog," as well as D-League blogging extraordinaire Scott Schroeder.

NBA Gives Players Until Wednesday to Accept Ultimatum

The NBA and the NBPA both packed in their full negotiating committees for the latest labor meetings Saturday night.

Though the meeting did not go as late into the night, as many of the record setting 15-16 hour meetings have, this one ended with the league putting a firm stamp on negotiations in the form of an ultimatum.

With all of November's regular season games already cancelled, the league issued what Commissioner David Stern implied would be its final decent offer. The latest proposal by the NBA calls for a 50-50 BRI split (as opposed to a reported 52% desired by the players), as well as major system changes that limit team spending and makes it more difficult for taxpaying teams to benefit from free agency each offseason.

Should the NBPA not accept the deal by Wednesday, Stern claims that the league will rebuff by retracting it, instead offering the players only 47% of a potential BRI split, with an even tighter proposed system.

Despite the threat, NBPA Derek Fisher was defiant, asserting, "Right now, we've been given the ultimatum. And our answer is: that's not acceptable to us."

The players are holding steady, with some firmly believing that losing money early on (i.e. delaying/canceling the impending season) will ultimately be worth it, benefitting from a better system and more money in the long run.

The Players' Union was joined yesterday by New York Knicks' point guard Chauncey Billups, a five-time all-star and NBA Finals MVP, who has publicly said he would be willing to sacrifice his lucrative $14 million plus salary if it meant the players will benefit in the long-term in the way of a fair CBA.

On the flip side, the league and its owner were joined by Bobcats owner and arguably the best player of all-time, Michael Jordan. Despite making as much as $30 million as an annual salary during his playing days, Jordan has reportedly been holding firm as one of the most passionate hardliners on the owners' side.

Jordan has been criticized for not looking out for the best interest of the players, given his past success in a more lenient and lucrative system, but how can anyone blame him now?

As owner of the NBA's most recent franchise (in one of the smaller markets), Jordan has a different responsibility now. His playing days are over and he has to act in the best interests of how he will effectively run his business/franchise. Whether you as a fan side with the players or the owners, it does not make a difference; it's easy to understand Jordan's position and why he doesn't "side" with the players.

Simple: he's no longer a player. Furthermore, in regard to Jordan's position on system issues, it makes sense for him to be tighter, not wanting to keep giving bigger markets a competitive advantage.

It's the same reason why the big market owners are eager to cut a deal. They have the money and would be lenient going about spending it if it meant they in fact have a competitive advantage. Each owner is keeping in mind what will ultimately bring them the most success. Jordan is no different.

In any event, it seems as though Fisher and the NBPA are not budging and will not give in to the ultimatum set by Stern and the league. Then again, it's only Sunday. Time will tell, but the two sides appear at a standstill.

More on this as it develops.