Streetball Anyone?

I went out last night to play some hoops with some local guys in the neighborhood. Nobody reported about it (although I thought they should have) and there were no cameras. It was “streetball,” the kind of game that has been going on for years now….well until this summer I should say.
It seems that streetball has taken on a whole new world. Apparently the American born players who are waiting to see if there will be an NBA season next year are meeting around the old black top (or Morgan State) for a pick up game or two. These games are a mixture of NBA All-Star Defense and And 1 hype!
But Why? Why are these guys out there risking their careers to entertain a few hundred or thousand people in a streetball game? If the NBA was not in a lockout situation these veterans would never take to the court to show off their skills. Does Clayton Bennet cringe everytime he hears Kevin Durrant has signed up to play another game? I am a person who NEVER roots for injury, but the Oklahoma City franchise is one summer league ACL tear away from a disaster. Summer leagues are for rookies and guys trying to make a team. When was the last time you saw a superstar trying to prove himself? I thought Kevin Durant did enough last summer representing the US to earn a smmer vacation this year.
So what should the players do with there free time. Here is an idea, Get involved in the negotiations with the league. Today I heard the legendary coach Jonh Thompson almost beg the players to get involved. I have an idea of what the players can do Instead of playing basketball on the streets of New York, Baltimore, and LA. Instead of playing, how about sitting with the owners and representatives from the league at a bargaining table. Who would have greater leverage than Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo and Kevin if they were at the table? With all do respect to Derek Fisher, the players listed above would certainly have more pull when it comes to getting a deal done. The future of the game is on the line here and these multi-millionaire players need to sit with their billionaire bosses.
The NBA is coming off one of the most watched finals in years. While one could argue the interest was only in seeing Lebron James fail, there is too much on the line here for Lebron to play a pickup game with his friends. Not to mention, they don’t give out rings in streetball, and there will never be a show on ESPN about his decision to take his talents to the Melo League team