INDEPENDENCE: There was a time not long ago when LeBron James hinted that the players would try to wrestle back some of the millions the union relinquished to ownership during the 2011 lockout. Yet the new labor deal agreed upon this week keeps the basketball-related income at roughly a 50/50 split.
So why the change in thinking?
“It’s always give and take when you’re having a negotiation,” James said Friday. “Try to figure out a way that both sides can feel good about the situation.”
That’s in stark contrast to 2014, during the first few weeks after James returned to Cleveland and the league announced the new nine-year, $24 billion television deal. Players gave up about 7 percent of their BRI in the previous contract, dropping their share from 57 to around 50. James hinted two years ago the players would try to get some of that back in the next round of bargaining.
“The owners were telling us [in 2011] they were losing money,” James said two years ago. “There’s no way they can sit in front of us and tell us that right now. … That will not fly with us this time.”
If keeping labor peace was the primary objective — and by all accounts it was — then leaving the BRI split untouched was likely necessary in order to agree on a labor extension before either side had the opportunity to opt out next summer. Had the players dug their heels in on recouping some of that 7 percent, another ugly lockout could’ve ensued.
“The No. 1 thing, we wanted to continue to build the pie and grow the pie,” James said Friday. “We did that.”
Ring ceremonies
Timofey Mozgov will receive his championship ring in a brief on-court ceremony Saturday before the Cavaliers host the Los Angeles Lakers. Mozgov signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Lakers last summer.
“I love Timo. He’s one of my favorite guys,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “For a guy to be a starter and play such a big role and have an impact on our team the way he did two years ago and then in the playoffs last year not being able to play, but he was the first guy off the bench cheering, running onto the floor, jumping up and down when guys hit 3s, you just love to have guys on your team like that. We miss him around here.”
Lue said Mozgov fell out of the rotation by the NBA Finals last season because of his size and the way teams structure their second units.
“The game has changed. If you’re not a starter at the 5, it’s pretty hard to play as a backup because the second unit, they all go small,” Lue said. “If you’re not a big man to start the game, it’s kind of hard to bring you off the bench. He understood that.”
The Lakers have been unable to lure marquee free agents the past couple of years despite having cap space. Instead, they’ve had to go the more traditional route of rebuilding through the draft. Lue, who broke into the league with the Lakers, acknowledged he’s a bit surprised they’ve had trouble attracting top veterans.
“You would think that they would attract more free agents, but it depends who the free agents are,” Lue said. “[There’s] a lot of pressure when you put on that purple and gold. You have to win and if one great player goes there and he can’t carry a franchise, he can’t do it, there’s a lot of pressure on him.
“I don’t think it’s because of the franchise or organization — the Lakers — [I] just think it’s a lot of tradition that follows. For a guy to go there, go by himself and not be able to win it’s a lot of pressure.”
Birdman grounded
Center Chris “Birdman” Andersen tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season. Andersen suffered the injury on a noncontact play in practice Friday, the team said, and an MRI revealed the tear.
Andersen appeared in 12 games this season for the Cavs, averaging 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds. Andersen’s injury leaves the Cavs with two dead spots on the roster at least temporarily, since his contract is fully guaranteed and the team is also carrying Mo Williams on the roster.
They are down to just Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye as the only true bigs.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.