NBA Lockout: Activities for NBA Players While They Can't Play Basketball

While the NBA is in the middle of what could be a long and nasty labor dispute, many basketball players will have a lot of time on their hands.

Until the players and the owners agree on how to divide the billions of dollars in revenue that the league generates each season, the players are not able to have anything to do with the NBA.

While some will travel, some will stay home with family, and some will be involved in the lockout meetings, here is a list of possible activities in which some of the league's players might participate to stay busy while they are not playing.

Steve Nash: Play Soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps

It is no secret that Steve Nash loves soccer. He is a gifted athlete and would have been a Major League Soccer player had he not played in the NBA.

In order to stay fit for the Phoenix Suns, maybe Nash can play a few matches with the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer.

With only two wins in their first 18 games, the Whitecaps can use all the help they can get. At the very least he could practice with the team.

As a part owner of the club, however, there may be a rule that he can not sign himself to a contract.

He may be stuck wearing the scarf and beating on that drum to support the team.

Kobe Bryant: Rest and Recover

Kobe Bryant needs to take a break more so than any other player in the league. At 32 years of age and after 14 years in the league, he is beat up.

Not only has he played that much, but he has been a target every time he has stepped onto the court, and is fouled constantly.

He has played through injuries, postponed surgery, and has even played extended seasons most every year he has been in the league.

Despite all of this, he is still one of the best players in the league and will make the Lakers a very dangerous team should the NBA play only a partial season before the playoffs.

Until then, Kobe, take a break. You deserve it.

Paul Pierce: Work as a Handyman

Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics had the opportunity to help build a house for an NBA charity.

Judging from this photo, he really knows how to wield that mighty hammer. He looks like a natural carpenter and could possibly work for a local contractor.

Maybe he can start working on a house for Dwight Howard in hopes that he will come play in Boston.

How hard of a transition can it be to go from nailing jump shots to nailing boards and shingles?

Dirk Nowitzki: Stay on the NBA Championship Tour

No one loves the fact that the Dallas Mavericks won this year's NBA Championship more than Dirk Nowitzki.

Since winning the title and being named the Finals MVP, he has been on tour in two countries celebrating his accomplishments.

If the league does not play next year, he will have the chance to enjoy the championship longer than many other players have before going back to work to defend the title.

Just in case he gets bored, he may play in the European Basketball Championship in August.

Perhaps he will have another title to bring home.

Ron Artest a.k.a. Metta World Peace: Anything He Wants

The always unpredictable Artest gets a special spot in this list. Since we never know what he will do next, he can do whatever he wants in the offseason.

His latest idea is to surround himself with more positive energy and change his name to Metta World Peace. Metta is a term that means peace, love, and kindness.

Artest has been a nice guy over the last few years, and has done a lot to help the community. For example, he raffled off his 2010 Championship ring and donate about $600,000 to mental health-related charities.

As long as he is sharing the love, he can do whatever he wants.

I am sure he will, whether he has permission or not.

Blake Griffin: Practice for the Dunk Contest

Whenever the NBA gets the lockout mess straightened out and the players are allowed to play again, Blake Griffin will be ready.

Until then, he has a lot of time on his hands to work on ideas for his next All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk contest.

He will need the extra time to come up with something bigger and better than jumping over a car.

Every year the dunking bar is raised, but what could Griffin possibly do to top his dunk from last year?

He may have to bungee jump from the top of the arena and dunk the ball on the way down.

If he does go with that dunk, I want credit for the idea.

Rashard Lewis, Gilbert Arenas: Go to Church

Rashard Lewis and Gilbert Arenas would do well to go to church and pray that the rest of the league does not blame them for having a huge part in the lockout.

Both players had a few great seasons, signed ridiculously high-priced contracts, and then saw their production decline from what was projected.

While they are not alone in this, they are two of the most notable examples of contracts that led to this work stoppage.

Arenas is scheduled to make nearly $20 million in the upcoming season, and Lewis will make over $22 million of his own.

If they do go to church, they may both have to work something out for breaking the eighth commandment that states, "Thou shalt not steal."

Lamar Odom: Focus on the Reality Show

Now that the Lakers are not playing, Lamar Odom has all the time in the world to focus on the reality show in which he stars with his wife, Khloe Kardashian.

Sadly, the longer the lockout lasts and the more episodes he makes, the greater the chance he will become more popular for the show and his perfume line than he is for anything he does on the court.

While I have never watched the show, I would love to see an episode in which Lamar Odom has to break the news to his wife that he is being traded to a small market team in the league.

I don't think it would go over well if she had to move to Indiana, Utah, or Oklahoma City.

Enes Kanter, Kyrie Irving: Play Organized Basketball

Besides being drafted in this year's draft, Enes Kanter and Kyrie Irving have something in common: neither has played much basketball in the last year.

The more basketball that either of these newly drafted rookies can play, the better.

Both players were drafted with high hopes of success, and both need to work on basketball.

Kanter is scheduled to play for Turkey in the upcoming European Basketball Tournament in August.

Maybe Jazz fans can get an idea of what they will be getting with Kanter by watching that tournament.

Chris Anderson: Get More Tattoos

There has got to be some open space somewhere.

I am sure there is another design to add to the dog chain, the free bird, the punk on the side of his hand, and the wings under his arms.

One can only imagine what Anderson will do with some extra time to sit in the chair at Tribe Tattoo, his favorite place to get inked.

He does have a little space left on his face, which he has left alone so far, but seems to be getting closer to.

I wonder if will work for the Nuggets the way it worked for Jason Terry, if the Birdman gets the NBA Championship Trophy tattooed on himself next.

There is only one way to find out.

David Lee: Bowling

David Lee of the Golden State Warriors can stay in shape by participating in another sport.

What better game through which to work on his accuracy and ball handling than bowling? Perhaps he can become the tallest player in PBA history.

This picture may be deceiving, though, as it was taken at a charity event. Maybe he is not a bowler at all, but with bowling partners like these he could be.

Something tells me that on this night he was not so worried about strikes and spares, or converting the dreaded 7-10 split.

LeBron James: Take a Public Image Class

LeBron James would benefit from taking a course on how to speak in public and handle the media.

Knowing that everything he says will be scrutinized, and looking at his track record of belittling fans, blaming God for losses, and arrogantly counting championships before the season starts, his image could use a makeover.

Maybe he needs to learn how to talk like a politician and say a lot of words that don't really mean anything. If he could just lay low during the lockout and come back saying the right things, a lot of haters would get off of his back.

Maybe it is time for President Obama to let LeBron borrow a speech writer for the summer to help him to reshape his image and learn what he can and can't say.

Kevin Love, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard: Appear in Disney Channel TV Shows

In the middle of the last season, an episode of "The Suite Life on Deck" aired on the Disney Channel that guest-starred these three All-Stars.

While they did a little acting and played a little basketball, they may have set themselves up to star on future Disney shows.

Now that they have some extra time, maybe they can film another episode, or possibly get a starring role in a made-for-TV kids movie.

Each of them did a great job on this show, and there is no reason they can't do more to pass the time.

Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen: Make Retirement Plans

I am not suggesting that this trio of future Hall of Famers have nothing left in the tank or cannot continue to be great players in this league.

Each of them proved last season that they can not only keep up with the young guys, but can still teach them a thing or two.

They have all won championships, rank near the top of several categories, and will leave the league with a great legacy. There is really not much left for any of them to accomplish.

If the NBA plays games this season, they will all be back, but they may benefit from looking to retire soon.

If the lockout lasts a long time and gets ugly, they may not want to deal with the process of the league's rebuilding.

It may be a good time to move into the coaching, announcing, or consulting careers that await them in the future.

Dwight Howard: Look for a New Home in a New City

Dwight Howard now has time to do some research, check out some neighborhoods, and see what other NBA cities have to offer.

Following whatever this season turns out to be, Howard has the opportunity to opt out of the contract that he has with the Orlando Magic, and see where he can land in free agency.

Every team in the league will be interested in signing him as a free agent, and he will be one of the biggest names to change teams in a long time.

If he goes to the right team and matches with the right All-Star player or players, he will create another super team that will challenge each year for the NBA Championship.

While he has some time, he can do his homework and end up in the right place.

Kris Humphries: Make Wedding Plans

Kris Humphries will have a lot of time to pick the colors, hire a caterer, compare photographers, and work with the wedding planner.

Maybe he will have some time to figure out how to join the Clippers or the Lakers as a free agent. If his fiancee has anything to do with it, he will not be playing for the Nets next season. He will move to the other side of the country.

Marrying into the Kardashian family, it is only a matter of time before he has his own reality show. One of the most important things he can do is talk to Lamar Odom to see what he is getting himself into.

If there are any that I missed or any that need to be added to the list, please let me know.

Chris Johstoneaux is a contributor to Bleacher Report who usually covers the NBA and Major League Soccer. If you liked this article, please take a moment to leave me a comment and follow me on Twitter @JazzRSLExaminer.