The last lockout took years to recover the fans and the hype of the game, that has been made great so many previous athletes and franchises.
An argument that is dominated by the phrase "our rights" by so many different parties, it's hard to know whether to laugh or cry as this product is dragged through the mud by those that love it the most.
The players are fighting for a bigger piece of the pie, even though they already earn over fifty percent of the revenue generated by the game.
The Franchise owners are fighting to at least break even or make a small profit. Franchise purchases are made in the hundreds of millions so it must be considered fair that they have a right to recuperate at least some of their investment.
There are also the rights of the staff on the ground of all the stadiums that need games to go ahead so they can earn an income from night to night.
The NBA has its own set of rights also, they run the game, and they regulate the rules and the draft. There responsible for the direction of the sport and the growing of the product. Which they have a proven track record of excellence in a tough sporting market dominated by the NFL and MLB.
So what's the answer to the madness? I think it is imperative that a deal is cut where all parties benefit. It involves the players giving a little back, they play 80 odd games a year of a non contact sport and earn millions of dollars already, and perhaps enough is enough.
The NBA commission might also need to share some funds from their fat wallet over to the Franchise owners each year. Also a well regulated salary cap might stop the Big Three circus from ever happening again.
Although these answers seem like common sense, there is so many protruding factors that a seeping into to this ordeal that will block any short sided answers to this obscene enigma.
A long offseason is ahead for all of the wrong reasons; it's a great shame they have not learnt from the damaged caused by the last lockout. It's not a game, it a shame.