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“The agents were saying decertifying in July. They really weren’t interested in decertification, what they were interested in was leverage. Being a lawyer and knowing the law, I know that once you decertify the biggest argument you’ve got to get over is [whether it’s] a sham.’’ Hunter said the union finally decided to disband when Stern announced his “take it or leave it’’ offer Nov. 10. Such a move was designed to spark an agreement, but added ammunition to the union’s legal claim that owners were no longer negotiating in good faith. The disbandment lasted 16 days. Boston Globe

CBA, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents 

And while he and Stern spent months trading barbs, they are professional friends, two astute lawyers paid to spin perceptions to their sides. Each understands that negotiations are often painful, but necessary. “We have a mutual respect,’’ said Hunter. “There’s wisdom in a sense that we’re both engaged in a business, you go to war and when the war is over you see generals visiting North Vietnam and they sit down and have discussions with their adversary. They find they have many things in common. I think that’s how it is with us. Our ultimate goals are the same, to promote the game because we all live as a consequence of the game. I just want to make sure my constituency gets their fair share since they’re the ones on the front line. Boston Globe

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

With 14 players, the Jazz have an NBA-approved roster. Teams can carry between 13-15. The new collective bargaining agreement comes with a wrinkle. Thirteen players (previously 12) can dress and play through Feb. 6. From then on, the NBA introduces a weird change as teams will still be allowed to dress 13 guys but only 12 can play. Deseret News

Utah Jazz, CBA 

The NBA legal battle is officially over. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz in Minnesota dismissed the lawsuit Monday at the request of players and owners now that the two sides have approved a new collective bargaining agreement. Training camps and free agency opened last Friday. ESPN.com

Law, CBA, Lockout 

Kohl, appearing at the Bucks media day gathering at the Cousins Center training facility, spoke openly about the ramifications of the new CBA and the separate revenue-sharing plan agreed to by owners. "I think on balance it's good for small-market teams and gives us a real opportunity to be profitable from now on, which hasn't been true for quite a number of years," Kohl said. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, CBA, Lockout, Herb Kohl 

And he agreed with Stern's characterization that the debate among owners on a new revenue-sharing agreement was "arduous." Kohl said he was heavily involved in the debate, shuttling between Washington and New York. "To the credit of large-market owners, they understand if we are going to move forward as a 30-team league there has to be a willingness to share more local revenue. Right now, we've not really done that," he said. The Bucks were getting approximately $5 million a year under the old revenue-sharing plan. The new plan, which will begin in 2013-'14, increased the amount coming to small-market teams significantly. Kohl acknowledged the Bucks would be in line to receive approximately $15 million to $16 million a season. "On balance, considering the CBA and revenue sharing together, there were a lot of good things in it," Kohl said. "I wanted to be sure smaller-market teams were taken into consideration. It didn't come easily, because those who have don't want to give, and those who don't have perhaps want too much." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, CBA, Lockout, Herb Kohl 

Mike Prada: Ted Leonsis confirms he ratified the new CBA. So he wasn't one of the five who didn't. Twitter

Washington Wizards, CBA, Lockout, Ted Leonsis 

As fans fretted on the sports radio airwaves Thursday that normally free-spending owner Mark Cuban is frittering away a chance for a repeat championship by offering key pieces to last season's title run a take-it-or-leave-it, one-year contract offer, Cuban said he is reacting to the new rules of the collective bargaining agreement that was ratified Thursday by the league's owners and players. "This was the plan the minute we agreed to the new CBA," Cuban said. "This is 100 percent about the CBA and understanding the impact it will have on the market." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, CBA, Mark Cuban 

Five NBA owners voted against the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, commissioner David Stern said Thursday following the conclusion of the league’s Board of Governors meeting. The identities of those five teams were not disclosed, and Stern joked that the over/under on negative votes as set at 8 before the ballots were cast. SheridanHoops

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

Chris Sheridan: Stern: "Pleased and proud to announce" Board of Governors approved labor deal and revenue sharing plan. Fair, but not perfect deal, he says. Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

J. Michael Falgoust: Stern: “We have found a solution that should provide our league with better competitive balance.” #nba Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

Chris Sheridan: Stern says it's fair to say this will be his last deal. He won't be around in 10 years, and maybe not in 6 (when either side can opt out.). Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

Howard Beck: NBPA announces that more than 86 percent of players voted in favor of ratification, out of more than 200 who cast votes. Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

Howard Beck: By the way, that means less than half of players who were eligible actually voted. Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

NBA players and owners on Thursday approved a new collective bargaining agreement, formally ending the five-month lockout and paving the way for training camps and an already rampaging free-agency period to open, three people familiar with the results told CBSSports.com. The players voted via email from 6 p.m. ET Wednesday until 4 p.m. Thursday. The owners' Board of Governors, with representatives from all 30 teams, approved the deal at a meeting Thursday in Manhattan, where they also finalized details of their new revenue-sharing plan. CBSSports.com

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

Ken Berger: When league business opens tomorrow, salary cap will be $58.044M, tax line will be $70.307M, and team minimum payroll of $46.435M. Twitter

CBA, Salary Cap, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

Chris Palmer: Stern: "I don't believe in legacies. We had a deal we had to make." Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

JJ Redick: Voting on the CBA was electronic. Took me 12 seconds. I'd hate to see the turnout if we had to do it in person. Twitter

CBA, JJ Redick, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA 

NBA players on Thursday approved a new collective bargaining agreement in electronic voting, paving the way for owners to formally ratify the deal and open training camps and the free-agency period, two people familiar with the results told CBSSports.com. The players voted via email from 6 p.m. ET Wednesday until 4 p.m. Thursday. The owners' Board of Governors, with representatives from all 30 teams, was meeting in Manhattan Thursday to finalize details of their new revenue-sharing plan and also vote on the new deal. CBSSports.com

CBA, Lockout, NBPA 

Presuming approval by the owners, training camps will open as scheduled on Friday, with the free-agent and trading period officially to begin at 2 p.m. ET, sources said. CBSSports.com

CBA, Lockout, NBPA, Owners