Bucks, Jazz Execs Say NBA's New CBA Will Help Small Market Teams

Bucks Owner Herb Kohl Saturday said that he thinks the franchise “can compete under the new collective bargaining agreement and even become profitable,” according to Walker & Gardner of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Kohl said, “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 that he “voted in favor of the new deal,” and agreed with NBA Commissioner David Stern's characterization that “the debate among owners on a new revenue-sharing agreement was ‘arduous.’” Kohl: "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.” 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,” and Kohl acknowledged that the Bucks “would be in line to receive approximately $15 million to $16 million a season.” 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, 12/10 ). ALL THAT JAZZ : Jazz CEO Greg Miller said, “I’ll speak for the Jazz and say that the resolution to the lockout -- the current CBA -- is a long way from where we wanted to be when we set out. But it’s a lot better for the Jazz than it was at the end of the last CBA. We’re better off from a competitive standpoint; we’re better off from a financial standpoint. Even though we pulled up short of what we originally wanted, I’m happy with the outcome.” Miller added, "From the perspective of a small-market franchise, I feel better about our ability to compete with the larger markets. ... I think I’ll just leave it at that" ( SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/11 ).