https://hoopshype.com/2023/07/20/ben-simmons-credited-year-of-service-for-2021-22-holdout-season/

"Years of service come into play when determining whether players are eligible for maximum contracts of certain sizes and for other benefits."

" ...clause in the CBA — which existed in prior versions of the agreement — holds that any player who "withholds playing services for more than 30 days after the start of the last season covered by his contract" could be deemed to have violated his contract and prohibited from entering free agency or signing with "any other professional basketball team unless and until the team with which the player last played expressly agrees otherwise." -viaESPN/"

"Counting the 2021-22 season at issue, Simmons now has seven official years of service in the NBA. Officials from several teams had argued Simmons should not receive credit for the 2021-22 season,sources said. The side letter is intended as a standalone, applying only to Simmons, and is not intended to set precedent for future cases, sources told ESPN. -"

I'm sorry but I don't think that is how precedent works. Once you do it, its been established and others WILL seek to claim it.

What I find that is interesting is that this clause was distinctly pointed out as one that wouldn't help James Harden because his contract is close to renewal...

"Harden has now requested a trade from the Sixers, and in the event Harden is not traded and then refuses to report to camp, different rules would apply to him because he is in the final year of his contract,"

What i think it most interesting about this 'addendum' is not the Harden situation but the Dame situation.

Dame has 4 years left on his contract. This seems to potentially pave way for him to sit out with less consequences.

Anyone else know more about this?

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