NBA sides reach deal

The days of jumping from the preps to the pros – the route to the NBA chosen by LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and others – are almost over.

A one-year increase in the minimum age was part of a new six-year collective bargaining agreement tentatively reached Tuesday by owners and players.

Commissioner David Stern and union director Billy Hunter finalized the deal in principle in New York and immediately flew to the NBA Finals to announce it prior to Game 6 between host San Antonio and Detroit. The agreement will replace the seven-year pact expiring June 30.

“We’re gratified that we were able to avoid a work stoppage,” Stern said. “This agreement creates a strong partnership with our players, which is essential for us.”

Other facets of the new deal will make trades easier, increase pensions for retired players, impose harsher penalties on drug violators and offer teams the option of sending young players for minor league seasoning.

The salary cap will be raised from 48.04 percent of revenues to 51 percent, increasing the amount of money each team can spend on player salaries, and players will be guaranteed 57 percent of revenues.

There could be more jobs, too, with teams being required to keep an average of 14 players on their rosters, and players will have the right to an arbitrator’s review of any suspension of more than 12 games for on-court misconduct.

On the age limitation, American players will have to wait one year after their high school class graduates before they can become draft eligible. International players will have to turn 19 by the end of the calendar year in which they become draft eligible.

ASU’s Diogu keeps name in draft

Arizona State’s Ike Diogu, the third player to lead the Pacific-10 Conference in scoring and rebounding in the same season, was among several players who indicated they will remain in the NBA draft.

The players who had declared for the early entry process had until Tuesday – one week before the draft – to withdraw their names and retain their college eligibility.

The NBA said it would release the list of those eligible for the draft today.

Among those who announced they would remain in the draft were junior center Dwayne Jones of Saint Joseph’s, freshman center Randolph Morris of Kentucky, junior forward Shavlik Randolph of Duke, sophomore forward Linas Kleiza of Missouri, junior guard Anthony Roberson of Florida and sophomore forward Olu Famutimi of Arkansas.

Among those removing their name were junior forward Torin Francis of Notre Dame, junior forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu of George Washington and junior forward Steven Smith of La Salle.

Diogu’s announcement ended weeks of speculation as he debated whether to return to Arizona State for his senior season or take a chance on being a high first-round pick.

“After going through the process, my family and I have decided it is in my best interests professionally to stay in the NBA draft,” the 6-foot-8 forward said.

Barry brings fatherly support

Hall of Famer Rick Barry was in San Antonio to cheer on his son, Brent.

Barry, who won a championship ring with the Golden State Warriors, hosts a daily sports talk show in the Bay Area. He was thrilled by his son’s decision to join the Spurs after five seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics to chase his first trip past the first round of the playoffs.

“He sacrificed a lot of money to be a part of a championship team, so I’m really happy for him,” Rick Barry said. “It’s really a treat to watch your son play for a championship. I was lucky enough to watch Scooter play for Kansas when they won (the NCAA title) over Oklahoma in 1988.”

Wallace accepts blame

Coach Larry Brown and the Detroit Pistons might not blame Rasheed Wallace for allowing Robert Horry’s dramatic 3-pointer in Game 5 on Sunday – but Wallace blames himself.

Brown deflected criticism from his forward following Wallace’s inexplicable decision to double-team Manu Ginobili in the final seconds of overtime. Horry, left alone at the 3-point line, hit the shot that led to the San Antonio Spurs’ 96-95 victory.

Brown said Wallace’s move was a “miscommunication,” but at the Pistons’ shoot-around before Game 6, Wallace put himself at fault.

“I’m still kicking myself, because Larry wasn’t out there,” Wallace said. “That’s commendable for him as a coach, but he wasn’t out there.”