A lockout of NBA players "appears imminent even though
the two sides have discussed a moratorium," according to
David Moore of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. While the union has
suggested a "no-strike, no-lockout agreement that would
allow the players to participate" in this summer's World
Championships, the "bone of contention here -- and the
reason both sides say privately that no headway was made --
involves free agency." The NBPA indicated it would "agree
to a moratorium as long as free agents were allowed to sign
under terms of the existing agreement." The NBA has said
any moratorium must include a freeze on free agent-signings.
The union "considers that sort of moratorium no different
than a lockout" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/19). NBPA Exec Dir
Billy Hunter told the AP: "They don't want to include the
right to sign free agents and make trades, and if you can't
do business it's basically still a lockout." NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik, on a moratorium: "We said we'd
consider it, but only in the context of whether it was good
or not for the bargaining process." A meeting is scheduled
for Monday (Chris Sheridan, AP/WASHINGTON POST, 6/19).
HOUSTON HAS A PROBLEM: Allan Houston, who had been
selected for the World Championship team said "everybody on
the team is risking some image here" by choosing to boycott
the event. Houston: "But this is what we think is best. We
certainly disagree that we're being unpatriotic." In N.Y.,
Mark Kriegel writes that the players "did the right thing"
by boycotting, as the NBA and USA Basketball "might as well
be joined at the hip" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/19)....USA TODAY's
Greg Boeck raises the possibility of USAB selecting retired
NBA players, like Magic Johnson or Dominique Wilkins, as
possible World Championship team members (USA TODAY,
6/19)....ESPN's David Aldridge said that while his name has
come up as a possible player, "word is that Johnson is
committed to fixing his fledgling television show, and won't
be available." Aldridge: "Are NBA players done as American
representatives in international competition? Other teams
like women's and wheelchair squads face budget cuts, because
the expected revenues from the NBA-laden men's team have
already been budgeted by USAB, and that's made some non-NBA
members of USAB furious" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/18).
CAN YOU HELP A PARTNER? In Chicago, Lacy Banks writes
that with the possible break-up of the Bulls, the league and
other teams should "bear some of the burden for maintaining
the Bulls." NBA Commissioner David Stern "needs to do
something special ... maybe even something radical to ease
the economic burden of keeping this team together so
everybody can keep making money" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/19).
