The NBPA yesterday indicated that it is "willing to compromise on the proposed revenue split between the owners and players if the owners drop their demands for some specific systems changes," according to Adrian Wojnarowski of YAHOO SPORTS. NBPA officials met with player reps yesterday before reiterating "their refusal to accept the league’s latest labor proposal with the hope the sides can resume negotiations ahead" of the owners’ deadline. Lakers G and NBPA President Derek Fisher said yesterday after the union meeting, "Our orders are clear, the current offer that is on the table from the NBA is not one that we can accept." NBA Commissioner David Stern has given the players a deadline of 5:00 p.m. ET today to "accept the owners' current offer, threatening to 'reset' the proposal to a worse offer." A union attorney spoke with NBA Deputy Commissioner & COO Adam Silver Monday "about arranging another negotiating session before the deadline," but sources said that NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter "preferred to wait until meeting with the player representatives." Hunter said that he "anticipates the two sides will meet Wednesday." Wojnarowski noted there is "some belief the owners are willing to at least consider some minor modifications." The union after yesterday's meeting indicated that it is "willing to take a 50-50 split if the owners modify some of their system requests." Hunter said that he has "heard from 'underground' sources the NBA might ... cancel games through Christmas if a deal isn’t reached Wednesday, but Stern disputed that claim" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/8). In N.Y., Howard Beck notes in offering to accept the league’s proposed deal, the union "effectively shifted the onus back to Commissioner David Stern and the owners." Beck notes as of midnight yesterday, "no new talks had been scheduled." Stern said on NBA TV that he "would be happy to take a call" from NBPA Hunter, but added that he "could not resume negotiations until he consulted with the owners’ labor relations committee" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/9).
UNITED THEY STAND: USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt notes some players "wanted to take a vote on the current offer, but Fisher said the player reps were not ready for that vote." Hunter said, "We're unified. As much as they want to play basketball, they're still of the mind-set that they're not going to accept a bad deal, and that's the message we have to send to the other side" (USA TODAY, 11/9). ESPN.com's Marc Stein cited sources as saying that the union "did not conduct a formal vote of the players assembled in the room Tuesday, opting instead for an informal 'everyone agrees' consensus that authorizes Hunter and Fisher to accept a 50-50 split of basketball related income in future negotiations as long as the league makes some concessions on some of the remaining system issues." A source said that those issues include "tax penalties and other rules for tax-paying teams." Fisher said without system concessions, "we don't see a way of getting a deal done between now and end of business" today. An ownership source said yesterday, "It's sad. I think they've seen their best offer" (ESPN.com, 11/8). In L.A., Mike Bresnahan cites a prominent agent as saying the players "don't need to be bullied into taking a bad deal." The agent added, "There's a reason (owners) want this to be a 10-year deal. They know the deal is so bad for the players that they want to lock them in as long as possible." The agent also said that there was "'absolutely' no way there would be a deal" today (L.A. TIMES, 11/9). In N.Y., Marc Berman notes the union's "show of force could force Stern into going through with his ultimatum, taking the offer off the table for a worse one and cancelling another two weeks of games" (N.Y. POST, 11/9). FoxSports.com’s Jason Whitlock: “Stern has backed himself into a corner and he has to live up to all of the huffing and puffing he's been doing. … The offers have to get worse or he's going to look like a bully that runs his mouth and doesn't back it up. He's been saying this for months and hasn't been backing it up” (“NESN Daily,” NESN, 11/8).
THE KESSLER FACTOR: In DC, Amy Shipley reports NBPA lead outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler yesterday "accused the owners of treating his clients like 'plantation workers,' a comment that drew a furious response from Stern." Kessler said that the owners' current offer "was not a 'fair deal' and that the soft salary cap functioned like a hard cap." Kessler added, "To present that in the context of 'take it or leave it,' in our view, that is not good faith." Stern yesterday "blamed Kessler for the stalled talks and said he deserved to be 'called to task' for the remark." Stern said, "Kessler’s agenda is always to inflame and not to make a deal, even if it means injecting race and thereby insulting his own clients. ... He has been the single most divisive force in our negotiations and it doesn’t surprise me he would rant and not talk about specifics. Kessler’s conduct is routinely despicable" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/9). A union source said yesterday that Kessler "will be reprimanded for bringing racial rhetoric into the negotiations." The union "purposefully steered clear" of Bryant Gumbel's remarks comparing Stern to a plantation owner, and the source said that the union "is not happy, nor condones, that Kessler made a similar reference" (ESPN.com, 11/8).
 |
Hunter is not opposed to players taking lead
on decertification effort |
COOL WITH THE D-WORD: Hunter yesterday said he is "cool" with Celtics F Paul Pierce leading a decertification movement within the NBPA and is "not at all opposed" to Pierce taking the lead. Hunter said, "We don’t have a lot of options and that’s the option Paul was pushing -- still is pushing. ... I endorse what Paul did." Hunter also said that Pierce "informed him Tuesday that about 200 players have committed to signing a petition seeking a decertification election if a deal is not consummated before" Stern's deadline (
CBSSPORTS.com, 11/8). In Boston, Steve Bulpett notes the Celtics "were the lone team not represented at yesterday’s meeting" of player reps. Hunter said that Pierce’s "failure to attend had nothing to do with" his push for union decertification (
BOSTON HERALD, 11/9). Hunter also said there was "very little talk of decertification" among the 43 players in attendance at the meeting. But he added that a "faction of players say they will [have] well more than the 130 signatures required to produce a decertification vote within 45 days if a deal isn’t soon struck" (
STARTRIBUNE.com, 11/8).
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE
: Hunter yesterday said that he "knows who the hard-line owners are" in the negotiations. When asked about Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan's reported stance, Hunter said, "I would give him the advice that he gave to [former Wizards Owner] Abe Pollin. OK? He should take his own advice." CBSSPORTS.com's Royce Young noted Jordan's "advice to Pollin of course was that if you can't make a profit, you should sell your team. So Hunter pretty much told Jordan to sell" (
CBSSPORTS.com, 11/8). Hunter said, "We are aware of who the hard-liners are and (what) the players are saying is we understand their position but unfortunately we’re not intimidated by all that" (
BOSTON GLOBE, 11/9). FOXSPORTS.com's Sam Amico wrote Hunter's comments are "likely to prove to be the negotiating equivalent of repeatedly poking a bear with your index finger." Amico: "What Hunter and the union may not realize, or appreciate, is the fact there really is a group of hard-line owners just waiting to make this offer worse. One key member of that group is Jordan, who was said to be upset with Stern’s ultimatum" (
FOXSPORTS.com, 11/8). SPORTING NEWS' Sean Deveney wrote all that "stands in the way" of reaching a new CBA "are owners like Jordan." And if Jordan "can’t make a profit with all the union has conceded to him, he should, like Hunter said, take his own advice and sell his team" (
SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/8). Magic G J.J. Reddick said Jordan's stance is "extremely hypocritical." He added, "There was a time when I thought common sense and logic would prevail, but in the last week or so I think the tide has turned and there’s a lot of emotion involved. And when emotion is involved, it’s a huge wildcard" (
ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 11/9). FoxSports.com’s Whitlock said, "Trust me, there are NBA owners who want to get a deal done, who wouldn't mind 52/48. There may be just as many of them as the hard-line owners, but that's not reported because David Stern's in complete control of them and in complete control of the media” (
“NESN Daily,” NESN, 11/8).
BLAME GAME
: CBSSPORTS.com's Ken Berger cited sources who have "identified the nine teams pushing the hardest for a draconian rollback of salaries and rules governing player contracts and team payrolls." They indicated that the "teams holding the hardest line in negotiations have been" the Hawks, Bobcats, Pacers, Grizzlies, Bucks, T'Wolves, 76ers, Trail Blazers and Wizards. Berger noted these "nine owners or ownership groups have been trying, with increasing success in recent weeks, to recruit more moderate owners to their cause." If the players "reject the deal on the table, the NBA will be turned over to the Hard-Line Nine, and it won't be pretty" (
CBSSPORTS.com, 11/8). The N.Y. POST's Berman writes the lockout "has become all about giant egos, not giant issues." Berman asked, "Will the season really get killed over luxury-tax penalties?" Most players "probably never realized how the luxury tax even worked in the old CBA," but they are "so competitive, they don’t want to lose at anything." A source said that the owners "have played it wrong in challenging the players -- unless it is their intent not to have a deal." Berman: "Which it may be" (
N.Y. POST, 11/9). L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said the players accepting a 50-50 split “is the only rational thing to do.” Plaschke: “The players have to save the season or they’re going to start missing paychecks” (
“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 11/8).
STERN'S LEGACY
: In N.Y., Harvey Araton writes the "outcome of the lockout could actually represent Stern’s final victory -- at least as some owners will see it." Or in the "event of a lost season, his most devastating defeat -- and who knows what after that." Araton writes either way, at "a time in life more conducive to embarking on a path to patriarchal disengagement, Stern has become more publicly embroiled and embattled than ever." Former Suns Owner Jerry Colangelo said, "Ownership has changed, the players have changed, the media has changed -- the whole landscape has changed. And in the past five to seven years, I’ve also seen some changes in David. He is a survivor and a competitor, but put it this way: some of the stuff has worn on him." Araton writes, "However hardened and hardheaded, Stern’s pain over having the NBA shut down in the wake of its most compelling season in years has been obvious to those who have known him a long time. They are not fooled by the combative persona, the lawyer prosecuting his case in pursuit of a more balanced and profitable league." Colangelo said, "Inside, this is killing him" (
N.Y. TIMES, 11/9).
