The NBA and the players union will "return to the
bargaining table Friday in New York for the first time in
three weeks," according to USA TODAY's Roscoe Nance, who
writes that the session, "in all likelihood, is their last
opportunity to reach a settlement in time for games to be
played before this calendar year ends." NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik said, "We're going to be in a lot
of trouble" if today's session doesn't lead to a settlement.
Nance writes that "indications are that very little will
happen" at today's meeting (USA TODAY, 11/20). In N.Y.,
Mitch Lawrence writes that the lockout has "reached the now-
or-never stage" of negotiations. Some NBPA officials expect
NBA Commissioner David Stern and the nine owners who make up
the labor relations committee "to use today's session to
issue a drop-dead date on negotiations." Lawrence also
reports that NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter "said he had spoken
to about 250 players in the last 10 days and that they are
vehemently opposed to making any more concessions until the
league moves off its demands" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/20).
Granik said the owners have "no new proposal. That rumor
has been out there for a few days, but it's not true"
(INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 11/20). NBPA counsel Jeffrey
Kessler: "We don't know how to convince them (the owners)
that we are seriously not going to change our position. I
don't think they believe us" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/20).
WHO GOT TO LEGLER? Wizards G Tim Legler said that "he
regrets making harsh comments about elite NBA players" that
appeared in Thursday's Washington Post. Legler will attend
today's negotiating session and said, "In terms of me
singling out the elite group of players, that's something I
definitely regret coming out the way it did. It was at a
time I was venting a lot of frustrations. ... I'm with the
union." NBPA Dir of Communications Dan Wasserman, on
Legler: "He's back in the fold" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/20).
NEW UNION PAYMENT PLAN? ESPN's David Aldridge reported
last night that the NBPA is "considering a new plan, besides
playing exhibition games, that would help raise money for
the union." The players are considering "securitization."
Aldridge: "What it is, simply, is that you go to a bank and
try to get the present value of future earnings. And, for
players who are making $75 to $80 million on big contracts
coming up in the next few years, you can see that they could
get quite a substantial loan from banks. Another way you
could do [it] is to take the money you're getting from the
licensing, which is $25 million, and get a loan on the
present value of $25 million that you're going to get over
the next few years from the league" (ESPN, 11/19).
HE GOT GAME: Heat G Tim Hardaway will play host to an
exhibition players game on December 4 at Miami-Dade
Community College's Kendall campus. Confirmed participants
include Mitch Richmond, Ike Austin, Allan Houston, Glen
Rice, Jamal Mashburn, Voshon Lenard, Terry Mills, Jerry
Stackhouse and Lindsey Hunter. Chris Webber, Juwan Howard,
Rod Strickland, Antoine Walker, Tim Duncan and Steve Smith
are "hopefuls." Tickets will cost $20 in advance and $25 at
the door, and some of the proceeds will benefit the
Children's Caring Center (Steve Wyche, MIAMI HERALD, 11/20).
