Clippers' Chris Kaman warns players must prepare for potential lockout

And so, the NBA's work schedule is only days away from officially starting and the chief starts talking about future wage cuts.

Not just by 10%, either. How about in the neighborhood of 35% to 38%?

That was, more or less, what happened Thursday in the NBA. Commissioner David Stern told reporters that the league would be seeking a cut in player income anywhere from $750 million to $800 million. This was after an owners meeting in New York.

"There's a lot of negotiations that are going on, and I don't really know how it's going to end up," the Clippers' Chris Kaman said Thursday. "They're saying lockout. You just never know. You've just got to be ready and prepare yourself for that, moneywise.

"I've been saving a lot — looking out."

Stern's comments came out when the Clippers were in the midst of an extremely long practice session, lasting nearly three hours. That was to be expected after a day off and a 1-7 exhibition season record. Even one of the players' wives tweeted, annoyed, that practice was lasting so long.