The NBA and NBPA "may not convene for another full-blown collective bargaining session until August," according to sources cited by Ken Berger of CBSSPORTS.com. The two sides "have met once at the staff level -- last Friday -- and are scheduled to gather again this Friday for a second meeting." The smaller sessions have not included NBA Commissioner David Stern nor NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter; the "highest-ranking figures involved" in those meetings have been NBA Deputy Commissioner & COO Adam Silver and NBPA Associate General Counsel Ron Klempner. It is "possible that the two staffs could negotiate again next week." But sources indicated that it "does not appear likely" that a full session -- including Stern, Hunter, NBPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler, owners and players -- will "occur until sometime in August." Berger noted it is unclear "whether that would put the two sides behind the negotiating pace" set during the '98-99 lockout, when it "was 37 days between the imposition of the lockout on July 1 and the next bargaining session on Aug. 6" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/19).
ON THE HUNT: Hunter yesterday confirmed there are "offers being made to many of our players” by overseas clubs and “they’re obviously being made to marquee players.” Hunter said, “We’ve put out a memo to all of our players saying that if they’re considering going abroad that first of all if they’re under a long-term contract that they should have an out provision. But they should also make sure they’ve got ample insurance to cover their contract.” He noted it is “more about guys wanting to play” during the lockout than just collecting a paycheck. ESPN's Chris Sheridan said, "There’s probably enough money out there to entice maybe 20, 25 guys, and a lot of those guys are going to be marginal guys or unrestricted free agents who want to secure a job for next year and not take the risk the NBA might lose an entire season to a lockout." Hunter acknowledged that players going overseas could impact labor negotiations, but said, "I wouldn’t want to speculate as to how much affect it will have" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 7/19).
MING DYNASTY: Yao Ming formally announced his retirement from the NBA this morning during a press conference in Shanghai, and Stern said that he "would soon offer Yao a place in the NBA, likely working with the league’s initiatives in China." Stern did not elaborate on his "hopes to work with Yao, but indicated that it could involve the NBA’s efforts in China." Yao owns his former team, the Shanghai Sharks, and "could also continue to work with the China Basketball Association." Stern: “I’m utterly thrilled that we’re contemplating working with Yao as we continue to grow the sport of basketball. We have a full force in China. We think Yao is equally committed. I think we’ll find ways to work together. We know him and we know his hopes for Chinese basketball" (CHRON.com, 7/20).
