NBA owners and players met in Dallas yesterday and "negotiated for more than five hours" on a new CBA in the "second of three scheduled sessions during the Finals," according to Ken Berger of CBSSPORTS.com. NBA Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner & COO Adam Silver both said that they "were optimistic that the negotiations have continued, with a second full-day session featuring nearly the full negotiating committees on both sides" scheduled for today. Silver noted that a "third day of meetings in Dallas could be scheduled for Thursday," depending on how today's session goes. Sources indicated that the NBPA "made a formal counterproposal last week in Miami -- the first such proposal since the owners made their second proposal in April." One detail in the new offer is a "sliding-scale model for the players' share of basketball-related income (BRI), where the players would take a reduced share of the pie if revenues went up." Stern said that yesterday's meeting "consisted of a 'wide-ranging discussion' of the biggest issues separating the two sides: the system under which the league operates ... and the split of revenues between owners and players." Berger notes approximately eight players also were in attendance, including Lakers G and NBPA President Derek Fisher. On the league side, Spurs Owner Peter Holt, Heat Owner Micky Arison, Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, T'Wolves Owner Glen Taylor, Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss, Knicks Owner James Dolan, Suns Owner Robert Sarver, Thunder Chair Clay Bennett, Magic Vice Chair & CEO Bob Vander Weide and Trail Blazers President Larry Miller all attended yesterday's session (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/8). Stern yesterday said the meeting included "good and frank" discussion. He said the two sides "haven't reached agreement on anything," but added, "What it does is cause us to say we've got to keep on talking to try to have a breakthrough here" (AP, 6/7).
NOT WANTING TO TRAVEL SAME ROAD AS NFL: Stern said the "optimistic thing" about yesterday's talks was that the two sides were planning to meet again today. Stern: "I’m not going to tell you that we bridge the gaps or we are close on anything, but there seems to be a lot of goodwill in the room.” Stern did acknowledge that the path the NFL lockout has taken through the court system "is the less desirable road to travel." Stern: "We know that it is a possibility for us, but now they are bogged down. Hopefully their secret negotiations will lead them some place. I think both sides are beginning to realize that it is not a good road. It is ultimately going to come to a dead end. We look at that and say, 'Forewarned, can we do something that doesn’t have us going down that road?' If not, then not, but it doesn’t mean we won’t try” (NBA TV, 6/7).
