Former players union executive director Charles Grantham believes NBA lockout is coming in 2017

The NBA lost 16 regular season games in the 2011-12 season because of the lockout.

Despite eventually working things out, former players union executive director Charles Grantham believes there will be another lockout in 2017 when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement can be opted out of.

“Ideally, whether labor or management, you begin work on the next negotiation the day after you sign the last agreement,” Grantham told Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. “For the players, they have not been able to do that. They still need to find a director, and once they have one, they need to assemble a team and work on a strategy. They’re way behind.”

Grantham believes the NBA potentially pushing for a new age limit is just the beginning.

“You’re seeing somewhat of a notice put out by the NBA and the new commissioner that they have an interest in increasing the age to 20, they want a hard cap,” Grantham said. “The NBA is going to want more.”

Another lockout isn’t a sure thing, but it is certainly something to keep an eye on.