These are interesting times for the folks who run the basketball operations for NBA teams. To begin, the general managers and team presidents like Rod Thorn of the Sixers are allowed to talk to the agents of the players, but not with the players themselves.
Oh sure, Thorn and head coach Doug Collins are allowed to say hello to the players that turn out at the team's practice site at the Philadelphia College for Osteopathic Medicine for informal workouts beginning on Thursday, but that's it. No coaching, instruction or anything else basketball related.
Just chit-chat, Thorn and Collins said during a media session at PCOM on Wednesday afternoon.
So if Thaddeus Young were to show up to workout on Thursday, he can work with the strength and training staffs, but not the coaching staff. That will change, of course, when the new collective bargaining agreement is official and NBA training camps open on Dec. 9. Until then, a player like Young can't discuss a new contract offer with Collins or Thorn.
And chances are Young's agent will hear a thing or two from Thorn and the Sixers.
Young, the Sixers' valuable sixth man, who blossomed under Collins last season, is a restricted free agent. He received a qualifying offer from the team before the lockout began last July. According to Thorn, the Sixers very much want Young to return for a fifth season with the team when it begins around Christmastime.
"As far as we're concerned, Thad is a key player for us. He's a player that I think really took advantage of the coaching he got from Doug and the other coaches and really came back to where he was two years ago and built on that. We love Thad," Thorn said. "Let's say we don't sign him but somebody else does. As long as it's reasonable, we'll definitely match it. He's a key guy for us. We need him and we definitely want to have him back."
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Still just 23, even though he's been in the league for four seasons, Young finished third in last year's sixth man voting. He also turned a lot of heads during the first-round playoff series against the Heat last April when he went for 38 points and 17 rebounds in the first two games.
It stunned us, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Young's performance after the series.
Published reports indicate that the Sacramento Kings could make a significant offer to Young, but they won't be alone. Because teams have a little more wiggle room financially in the new CBA with an amnesty clause where a team can remove a player's salary from the cap and must spend at least 85 percent of its cap space, more teams may be able to take a run at a player like Young.
Think about it: while the Sixers have 11 players under contract (counting Young and fellow restricted free agent, Spencer Hawes) for the upcoming season, their Atlantic Division rival the Boston Celtics only have six players under contract.
Truthfully, it's a situation that worries Collins and Thorn a little bit.
"Anytime there is money to be spent, you're worried," Thorn said. "There were so many teams under the cap and a lot of them substantially and particularly when you factor in the ability to amnesty a playerthat brings even more teams into play.
"I've been through this too many times. You like to say that a player is going to get between here and here (salary-wise), but it only takes one team. So you never know. You never say, 'We're going to sign this particular guy for this.' Because you never know."
Collins said some teams might have to overpay players simply to get the overall payroll to 85 percent of the cap number.
"You get some of these teams that might be well below the cap and they might need to overpay a guy to get up to 85 percent," Collins said.
Otherwise, Collins doesn't know which players will show up to use the gym on Thursday. How could he? He's not allowed to talk to anyone. However, if Twitter is any indicator, a bunch of players are already headed back or have arrived in Philadelphia.
"From all of the things I'm getting, these players are so excited to start playing again," Collins said. "They miss playing basketball. I know we miss coaching them. I miss being around them. I miss my players and I can't wait to see them and get back on the floor with them. I would expect them to start trickling in."
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com.