Like any player in the last year of his contract coming off a strong finish to the season, Marcus Thornton was looking forward to being rewarded with a new deal.

And the Kings wanted to retain Thornton by making him a restricted free agent.

But Thornton and the rest of his colleagues will have to wait to sign new contracts and play again.

The NBA announced Monday night the first two weeks of the regular season had been canceled after the owners and the NBA Players Association failed to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The preseason already had been canceled. Monday's announcement means games through Nov. 14 will not be played and there will not be a full 82-game schedule.

The league also announced refunds will be given to season-ticket holders for canceled games.

Not playing is frustrating for Thornton, who is ready to begin his third NBA season.

"I don't know," Thornton said about the thought of missing games. "I don't know what to even to say."

The cancellations will cost the Kings four home games, eight total, beginning with the Nov. 2 season opener at home against the Houston Rockets and ending – at least as of Monday – with a Nov. 14 game at Memphis.

The league is at odds with the union at how to ensure teams have a chance to be competitive.

"Despite extensive efforts, we have not been able to reach a new agreement with the players' union that allows all 30 teams to be able to compete for a championship while fairly compensating our players," NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

That type of agreement would benefit teams such as the Kings, the league believes, and prevent teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks from being able to use bigger bank accounts to their advantage.

Kings' momentum hurt?

Delays in the start of the season could hurt the momentum the Kings built after looking to relocate to Anaheim in the spring.

The season finale at Power Balance Pavilion was an emotional night as the Kings rallied from double-digit deficit before losing to the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers in overtime.

The team stayed in Sacramento for another season, hoping to reach an arena deal to keep the Kings in the city.

The league said it would not oppose the Kings looking to move next year if no arena deal is reached. There has been a strong effort from the league to help the Kings market to the community and increase season ticket sales.

Now the Kings won't have games to build on that momentum or the publicity from drafting Jimmer Fredette, the most popular college basketball player last season.

During the lockout, the Kings are forbidden to use players for marketing. Players pictures aren't even allowed on the team website.

"We want our fans to know how much we appreciate their loyalty and enduring patience during this process," Kings spokesman Chris Clark said. "And, again an investment in Kings tickets is fully protected under the team's 'worry-free guarantee' refund policy."

'Loyalty Option' for fans

Many Kings season-ticket holders have opted for the Kings Loyalty Option where money kept on the books will receive six percent interest annually for games missed instead of having the money refunded.

When there is a deal, the money can be used toward playoff tickets this season or future season tickets.

Season ticket holders who did not choose that option will receive refunds within 30 days.

"I presume at some point there will be basketball once again," said Nancy Daley, 45, of Elk Grove, a season-ticket holder for several years who said she elected to pick up the Loyalty Option. "It might not be until December or January, it might not be at all this year, but I'm presuming there will be NBA basketball once again and I don't want to lose that."

The cancellations also will be a loss for local businesses, especially those around Power Balance Pavilion.

John Cook, operator of Malabar American Cooking on Del Paso Road, said the restaurant could lose between $2,000 and $5,000 in extra sales on nights the Kings play at home, depending on the opponent.

The cancellations, Cook said, are "a definite bummer because (game-related business) directly adds more sales to those nights."

Dividing revenue is key

NBA Commissioner David Stern indicated when speaking with reporters in New York after no deal was reached that games would be canceled in two-week increments every two weeks from now on until a deal is reached.

Stern added any deal would have to accommodate money lost from canceled games.

How to divide basketball related income remains a divisive issue that keeps both sides from making a deal.

Under the expired CBA, players received 57 percent of the BRI. The players have offered to go to 53 percent to account for losses by owners. The league has offered 47 percent for players.

Free agency is another issue both sides have struggled with, along with lengths of guaranteed contracts and the use of contract exceptions that allow teams to go over the salary cap to re-sign players.

Changes in those rules could directly affect Thornton and the amount of money he could receive in a new deal.

The Kings would have the most money for Thornton under the salary cap of any team once a deal is reached. Changes in the system would dictate how much Thornton could receive in a new deal and who the Kings might be able to add to the roster.

Thornton turned down the chance to play overseas, hoping there would be a full NBA season. Now he's re-evaluating his plans.

"I'm going to play it by ear, see how things and go from here," Thornton said. "Overseas is an option."

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The Bee's Matt Kawahara contributed to this report. Follow The Bee's Jason Jones on Twitter @mr_jasonjones and read his blog and more about the team at www.sacbee.com/kings.

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