NBA "NOT ENCOURAGED" BY NBPA'S LATEST PROPOSAL

     The NBPA submitted a proposal last week that would
"dramatically increase the salary cap, alter free agency and
institute a rookie salary wage scale."  Under the plan, the
current salary cap of $15.9M per team would be raised to approx.
$27M.  Also, rookie contracts would be limited to three years in
length, the draft reduced to one round and restricted free agency
eliminated.  NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik, in advance of
yesterday's meeting:  "All I want to say is we're not encouraged"
(David Moore, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/29).  NBPA Exec Dir Charles
Grantham told THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY that on the "key issues"
-- salary cap, etc. -- the two sides still have "major
differences" (THE DAILY).