There is no specific language in the collective bargaining agreement that requires a player, such as Van Horn, to join his new team for a certain number of days. But in recent discussions with the NBA Players Association, the league expressed a desire to establish a 30-day period to at least give the appearance that the player meant to stay with his new team and that the team intended to have him. However, that length is not official and could be reduced if the Nets see that Van Horn, 32, can't play.
"If there is an intent on the part of the player to remain with his new team, then everybody is OK with it," said a source familiar with the negotiations between the union and the league. "The big thing is that no one wants this to be seen as cap circumvention."