There are "nine franchises which are primarily driving
the NBA lockout," according to two sources with ties to the
NBPA cited by Frank Hughes on ESPN SportsZone. The sources
said the lockout "is mostly being driven by small-market
teams" finding it difficult to compete with the revenues of
the larger market teams, but listed the Bulls as joining the
Suns, Clippers, Wizards, Bucks, Warriors, Kings, T-Wolves,
and Pacers as the nine teams who "are mostly responsible"
for the NBA's position. The sources added that Bulls Chair
Jerry Reinsdorf "would like to see the lockout go as long as
possible so he can have more time to straighten out the
unique position of possibly breaking up a three-time
champion." The sources also indicated Reinsdorf is "miffed
about having to pay Michael Jordan in excess of $60 million
over the past two seasons and would like to be in the
position of having Jordan return to play next season for
significantly less money" (ESPN SportsZone, 8/11).
LIMIT THE GUARANTEED CONTRACT? One NBA team President
offered his CBA proposal to Mike Kahn of CBS SportsLine:
"All you have to do is limit the number of guaranteed years
and it will change everything. If you limit the years to
two or three years, then you won't have the problem of
renegotiation, you won't have to worry about being tied up
with cap money for seven years or more, and the players will
have the option of going out into a better market if they
want. ... I've heard enough of this posturing. It's time
for a solution." Kahn notes that player contracts have been
guaranteed for 30 years and it is "not likely" they would
back such a proposal (CBS SportsLine, 8/11).
NLRB ON FAST-TRACK? In N.Y., Kevin Kernan reports that
the NBA "gave its side of the story" to the NLRB in response
to the NBPA's claim that the lockout is illegal. The ruling
on the report of Regional Dir Daniel Silverman could "come
down shortly" as an NLRB source said the decision has been
put on the "fast track" (N.Y. POST, 8/11).
HUNTER IN HOTLANTA: USA TODAY reports that NBPA Exec
Dir Billy Hunter "held the first of five regional
informational meetings Monday in Atlanta" as "nearly" 24
players attended the session. Hunter has other meetings
scheduled in L.A., Dallas, DC and Chicago (USA TODAY, 8/11).
Hunter mentioned the owners walking out of last week's
negotiating session on Monday's "SportsCenter." Hunter: "I
figured there were probably owners there who wanted to stay
and have further discussions but I think they were inclined,
or compelled to follow, the actions taken by the
commissioner and when he opted to walk out of the room, they
followed him" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/10).
FAMILIAR RING, BIG GUYS NEED TO STEP UP: Shaquille
O'Neal was interviewed by CNN/SI's Fred Hickman and talked
about the lockout: "If it starts getting like late, late,
late in the summer, then some of the big-name guys are going
to have to step up" ("Sports Tonight," CNN, 8/10). In
Miami, Linda Robertson compliments O'Neal for his actions
while hosting his All-Star Basketball Game and promoting his
new album in Miami on Monday: "Give O'Neal credit. He could
have promoted his album from a more antiseptic perch. But he
kept the entourage buffer to a minimum and the mingling to a
maximum" (Linda Robertson, MIAMI HERALD, 8/11).
