Report: NBA Players to Be Allowed at Team Facilities on Thursday

Forgive my word choice here but…sh*t is starting to get real!

While the NBA lockout is not officially over there are some strong signs that the business of basketball will commence as early as tomorrow.

According to an ESPN report, NBA executives have been given the green light to open communications with player agents tomorrow morning at 9am eastern. That means free agency will begin soon enough.

What’s more is that team facilities will be open to the players beginning Thursday according to a memo issued by the league office.

In short, the NBA season is getting ready to commence sooner than expected.

Now before we get too carried away there are some stipulations to these baby steps. While trainers and strength coaches will be allowed to work with players, no coaches or general mangers will be allowed to conduct or observe drills.

Chalk all that up to the yet to be approved CBA.

However the doors will be open to all players. That means unsigned rookies, free agents and players under contract will all be permitted to get into team facilities.

This is by far the best news we’ve had in a long time. At this point it would seem highly unlikely that the new CBA will not be ratified. That would be a bigger tease than what LeBron did to Cleveland. However there is still plenty of that other business to handle first.

The union has to be reassembled in order to vote and the owners have to approve the deal as well. Both sides need a stipulated majority so not even Kevin Garnett’s mean mugging or Michael Jordan’s player hating ways will affect the outcome…hopefully.

So I’d suggest everyone get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow we get back to being able to talking hoops without any conditions attached.