Leonard Armato, who represents Shaquille O'Neal, "says he's
recommending his clients vote in favor of ratifying the proposed
collective bargaining agreement announced Tuesday," according to
Bryan Burwell in USA TODAY. Armato: "I was absolutely opposed
to the last deal that was proffered, but I can absolutely say
that with the absence of a luxury tax, the stars will be
protected. My feeling is that Jordan and David Falk's movement
without a doubt put pressure on both sides to get this thing
done" (USA TODAY, 8/14).
FLEISHER, NAY: Agent Marc Fleisher says the latest
agreement will "lead to an end of free agency." Fleisher: "This
deal is designed to force players to stay with their own teams.
A player has no leverage with his own team if he can't move. The
old deal is a soft cap; this deal is a hard cap. The deal has
gone from horrible to awful. This really is the end of free
agency" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/12).
DREXLER, YEA: The Rockets' Clyde Drexler: "The union's
purpose is to serve the good of all its members, not just a
greedy few. I'm not saying that about anybody (specifically),
but that's the union's purpose. This agreement completes that
purpose. ... It's a great agreement between the players and the
owners. Everybody should be pretty satisfied with the results of
it. ... If there's a problem, there has to be some other
motivation for it because it's a good deal between the players
and the owners." Drexler, on Jordan and Ewing: "They're good
guys. There's always going to be a couple of differences of
opinion. They've actually helped us get a better deal because
they were so dissatisfied to begin with. We thank them for their
help. It was a collaborative effort -- although not intended.
But the bottom line is that we got it done" (Michael Murphy,
HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/13).
ASKINS, YEA: The Heat's Keith Askins: "It's a fair deal.
... The players gave up some things, the owners gave up some
things. If guys can't see that, then there's something wrong
with them. They don't have everyone's best interest at heart.
... I wish we could just vote on the proposal and be done" (Gregg
Doyel, MIAMI HERALD, 8/13).
TAYLOR, YEA: Timberwolves Owner Glen Taylor "says he
probably will vote for the newly negotiated NBA collective
bargaining agreement, even though he thinks it will be a big
financial burden on the owners," according to Sid Hartmann in
Saturday's Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Taylor: "I like the idea
that the salaries of the rookies will be set by a salary cap, and
there won't be the huge signing bonuses. What I don't like is
the fact that we will be spending a lot of time developing our
number one draft choice, Kevin Garnett, and that he will be an
unrestricted free agent three years after he signs, and that some
big revenue city can take him away from us without any
compensation" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/12).
