National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern answers questions from the media regarding failed contract negotiations between the NBA and the players association in New York June 30, 2011. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS BASKETBALL)

        
        

So the NBA has officially entered a ‘lockout’, more technically described as a ‘work stoppage’. Everyone predicted that this is exactly what would come to pass, and it’s unclear how long it will be before pro basketball is played again.

One aspect of this may be that the D-League, which will continue to operate as normal, will have a lot more talent to choose from, unless the players who are leaving college and would have had shots at free agency decide to go ahead and try their luck overseas. Players can make a lot more playing overseas, but the D-League is considered much closer to the NBA, so many players will opt to try that route for a year or two. With a call-up to the NBA not currently an option, that may prompt some players to go across the water that much sooner; in many cases, that will mean not coming back to play in the states.