ASK IRA: Should new CBA include D-League assignments?

Q: Ira, with the terms of the latest offer including the “poison pill” D-League relegation stuff, is it now safe to say that the owners have never been negotiating in good faith throughout the entire process? — Bill. A: While the owners’ “good faith” certainly has been lacking, the D-League stuff is not part of the new deal, merely discussed. But getting beyond that, what has been discussed makes some sense, adding end-of-roster spots on two-way contracts. Foremost, it would help prop up the D-League into something closer to a farm system. It also would have teams carrying full, 15-player rosters. But taken further, such “swing” spots could be used for tryouts for veterans, viewing players such as Larry Hughes or Eddy Curry in the midst of the season in D-League settings, instead of weighing whether to immediately add them to NBA rosters. This is an idea that could work for both the teams and the players if executed properly. Q: Do y...