LACK OF NBA LABOR DEAL WILL SAVE RAPTORS/GRIZZLIES BIG BUCKS

     The NBA has given both the Grizzlies and the Raptors a
"respite worth almost C$70m each."  Since the NBA is currently
operating without a collective bargaining agreement, the
Candadian teams will not have to make a 40% installment payment
on their US$125M expansion fees by December 1.  The payment, now
due on March 1 or 30 days after a CBA is signed, is valued at
around $50M.  NBA spokesperson Jan Hubbard: "The expansion
agreement says that on the December 1st date, if there is no CBA,
the payment date can be waived."  Both the Grizzlies and the
Raptors declined comment, but Grizzlies managing partner Arthur
Griffiths is "believed" to be "breathing a sigh of relief from a
cash-flow point of view," since his Canucks are not generating
revenue (Craig Daniels, TORONTO SUN, 11/30).