Stern Hopes NHL Lockout Will Be An Example Of What Not To Do

NBA Commissioner David Stern said that owners “want to shorten the length of player contracts, cutting down on the number of players who aren’t earning their high salaries,” according to Scott Soshnick of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Stern: “The owners want to come up with a system that doesn’t reward players who are no longer basically in the league or shouldn’t be in the league at their higher prices. Longer contracts seem to be out of balance with the basketball realities on the court.” Soshnick noted players currently can receive seven-year guaranteed contracts (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/28). The N.Y. TIMES reports that “one major proposal of the owners is limiting the maximum length of contracts to four years, not seven.” Stern indicated that the NHL lockout “should give basketball players and owners a sense of urgency” to reach a new CBA before the current one expires after this season. Stern said the NHL situation is a “living example of what can happen if you don’t reach an agreement, and that’s what compels us to keep talking” (N.Y. TIMES, 10/29). Stern: “We remain committed to a process that guarantees the players a specific percentage of revenues. We’re talking more about certain approaches as to redistributing money than we are about major efforts to clamp that money down.” NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter “did not immediately respond to Stern’s statements” (AP, 10/28).