The NBA and NBPA will have a staff-level meeting today “with the hopes that it will set the stage for the next round of bargaining,” according to sources cited by Ken Berger of CBSSPORTS.com. Sources said that today’s meeting in N.Y. “will not feature the heavy hitters for either side,” as NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter, Lakers G and NBPA President Derek Fisher and NBA Commissioner David Stern are not expected to attend. Some “key figures involved in the talks requested this format, which will consist mostly of lawyers and staff for both sides.” One source said that it is "unclear what items will be on the agenda, but the staff meeting is expected to set the stage for a possible meeting of top negotiators" tomorrow. Although that meeting “is not yet confirmed, it is expected to include the same rosters as three small sessions that preceded last week's talks.” Berger wrote the “fact that the two sides are willing to reconvene so soon after large-group talks stalled is neither a positive nor a negative sign until we learn what each side is bringing to the table” (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/20). Berger wrote that both the union and the league “recognize time is running short to preserve an on-time start to the season.” Still, motivation to bargain “is one thing; getting it accomplished in ways that will satisfy the hard-liners on both sides is quite another” (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/20).
STANDING UNITED: ESPN.com's Chris Broussard noted Knicks G Chauncey Billups, after “speaking with nearly 50 players,” is now “convinced that most of the league's players understand they should not let their agents lead them towards decertification.” Billups: "I felt like this thing is really between the players, our union, and the owners. That's been my stance. I'm not saying agents are not important at all. ... But this is not really between the agents and the owners. We shouldn't be persuaded to decertify by somebody who shouldn't be doing any persuading.” Billups, who is represented by Andy Miller, is “not against using decertification as a last resort.” But he “feels like the players should put their full support behind” Hunter and the union and “let the negotiations play out before opting to decertify” (ESPN.com, 9/20). Mavericks G and player rep Jason Terry said that he is “confident players won't crack when paychecks don't arrive every two weeks because the majority of players have heeded the advice of union chief Billy Hunter for several years now to be prepared” (ESPNDALLAS.com, 9/20).
POINTING FINGERS: Former NBAer and TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal said that the owners "are partly to blame for the league’s current financial woes." He said that a number of owners “have overspent to keep players on rosters despite incurring significant revenue losses.” O’Neal “points to the Atlanta Hawks’ decision to re-sign guard Joe Johnson to a six-year, $119 million contract in July 2010 as a prime example of a franchise overpaying for a player when they [are] not bringing in significant revenue to offset the costs.” O’Neal: “Business-wise, Atlanta isn’t making that much money. But if you are going to offer a kid a lot of money, he’s going to take it. I think we need a system that [protects] the owners from each other” (NOLA.com, 9/20).
SHOULD STARS SPEAK UP? There have been several calls lately, the latest coming from Wizards G John Wall, for top NBAers like Lakers G Kobe Bryant and Heat F LeBron James to play a larger role in the labor talks. Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan said, "It’s a nice thought, but they have nothing to do with anything. The problem here is that there are too many owners who shouldn’t even be owning, and too many owners who would be just as happy not playing as playing and as long as that’s the case, this thing is in serious trouble no matter what Kobe and LeBron think.” Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw said, "The lawyers for the players and the lawyers for the league are going to fight this out, and the league is a long way from offering anything the players can agree with. Kobe and LeBron putting their faces out there might be nice, it’s not going to help.” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 9/20). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said, "I’m not sure you want your most polarizing player and your most unpopular famous face near what’s already a polarizing issue. Why would you want to put him near this when you’ve already got the perception among fans that this is just greedy people fighting over mountains of millions” (“Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 9/20).
ON THE PLAYER FRONT: In Indianapolis, Mike Wells notes the Pacers “held the first of several private workouts this week at an Indianapolis-area gym Tuesday,” with 10 players attending the two-hour workout (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/21). Meanwhile, Nuggets F Danilo Gallinari reportedly signed a contract yesterday with Italian League Olimpia Milano and “will immediately join them on a road trip.” Gallinari's deal “comes with an out-clause to return to the NBA once the lockout ends.” Gallinari played for Milan for three seasons until he was drafted sixth overall by the Knicks in the '08 NBA Draft (NEWSDAY.com, 9/20).
