The NBA and the reformed players union "will resume negotiations on the remaining terms of their new labor agreement starting Friday at noon," according to a letter sent to NBPA members by Exec Dir Billy Hunter and cited by Marc Stein of ESPN.com. In the letter, Hunter wrote the owners and the NBPA "still must negotiate numerous non-economic matters, including the anti-drug agreement, commissioner and team discipline, and workplace rules, together with relatively smaller economic and other contract issues." Hunter indicated that the union's hope "is that the deal tentatively agreed to in the early hours of last Saturday morning will be fully negotiated and ready to present to the union membership at a general meeting next Wednesday" in N.Y. The meeting "will be mandatory for team player representatives but open to all players." Hunter noted that the deal "would then be subject to ratification via electronic voting on Dec. 8 and would be completed by 5 p.m. that night," allowing for training camps and free agency to begin Dec. 9. The NBPA announced Thursday that the players "had formally authorized the reforming of the union, with more than 300 players submitting the necessary signatures to a third-party accounting group" (ESPN.com, 12/1). In DC, Michael Lee notes the union "needed at least 260 signatures for approval from the American Accounting Association and surpassed that number by the close of business" Thursday. Meanwhile, Lee notes a CBSSports.com report indicated that a "dozen agents are pushing for Hunter to be reinstalled as union leader but only on an interim basis." Free agent G & NBPA VP Roger Mason Jr. "has heard the speculation and came to Hunter’s defense." He said, "To me, that would be a huge mistake. I’ve been fortunate to be in the room. I’ve seen what Mr. Hunter has done throughout this whole process and frankly, I really don’t think we’d have a deal if he wasn’t involved. I think his leadership has been key in this process and I think that’d be a mistake" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/2). SI.com's Chris Mannix cited three players as saying that they "had serious doubts about whether Hunter should lead the union going forward and have voiced that opinion to other players." One player said, "He's trying to tell us this is a good deal. It's not a good deal. It will get approved, but don't try to tell us it's a good deal." Mannix notes, "Chief among player complaints has been how Hunter handled the dissolution of the union. Many players believed that the union should have dissolved (or decertified) back in July, when it was clear the owners were taking a hard-line stance in the negotiations" (SI.com, 12/1).
MORE WINNERS & LOSERS: The N.Y. TIMES' Beck writes in the tentative CBA, the owners "won some items and lost others, but they ultimately failed to regain control." The NBA's "superstars appear to be just as powerful as ever." Beck notes just "days after the lockout ended, Chris Paul reportedly demanded a trade from New Orleans to the Knicks amid rumblings that Dwight Howard might ask for a trade." Nets G Deron Williams "turned down an extension, putting him in play, too." Beck writes, "All are looking for big markets and superstar teammates. Sound familiar?" The "superstars are still flexing their leverage despite a raft of new restrictions." And the owners’ "competitive-balance concerns may soon be exacerbated," in part because they did not "get the hard cap they so badly wanted." One small-market GM said he believes not having a hard cap "set the league back." He added, "That was the only true way to get parity. And they let it go. ... I think the players won this time" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/2). In Toronto, Ryan Wolstat writes, "Chris Paul wants to engineer a trade to the New York Knicks. The hope was this kind of garbage would go the way of the dodo thanks to a new NBA collective bargaining agreement." The "irony of all of this is the owners tried hard to take the power of movement away from players in negotiations the past few months." While it is "slightly more punishing financially for players to bolt their former clubs than before, it still can be done without much of a setback for the departing stars" (TORONTO SUN, 12/2).
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Blatche admitted he was surprised when he
found out there would be an NBA season
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BACK TO THE GRIND: The WASHINGTON POST's Lee noted for the "first time in five months, it felt like a normal Thursday" at Verizon Center, with team officials "no longer banned from publicly discussing players and players finally granted access to the gym, locker room and training table." Wizards C Andray Blatche said, "To be honest with you, I started to lose hope and I didn’t think there was going to be a season this year. ... So they surprised me when they said it was going to be a season" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/1). Mason said, "It’s great to be back in an NBA facility. Everybody is excited, jittery, just happy to be back at work. I know the process isn’t done yet, but it sure feels good to be here." In DC, Carla Peay noted after the workout, Mason "collected signed forms from players to re-certify the players union" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/2). In Orlando, Josh Robbins writes when several Magic players arrived at Amway Center Thursday, "they felt a tangled mix of joy, relief and a hint of eeriness." They were "happy to see familiar faces, but they found it strange that front-office employees couldn't say anything more substantial than quick hellos." Magic F Ryan Anderson said, "It's just kind of a weird feeling." Robbins notes league officials "are prohibiting front-office executives and coaches from having anything more than perfunctory conversations with their players," but players may "train in the weight room under the supervision" of strength and conditioning coaches (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/2). In Detroit, Vince Ellis notes there are "a few changes at the Detroit Pistons' practice facility in Auburn Hills." Blue signs "glorifying the team’s championships line the walls beside the basketball court" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/2). Also in Detroit, Vincent Goodwill notes the new signage also included Owner Tom Gores' mantra to "Be Impactful" and "Earn Your Way Every Day" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/2).
FILLING THE SEATS: In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg notes the Bobcats "will tip off the delayed season with an open house at Time Warner Cable Arena Thursday, an event aimed at spurring season- and multi-game ticket sales. A special offer for individual game tickets also will be offered that night" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/2 issue). The ORLANDO SENTINEL's Robbins reports Magic officials "sent an e-mail message to partial-plan and season-ticket buyers Thursday afternoon." The message was signed by team President Alex Martins, and "apprised the fans about the upcoming season." It also "included these two sentences: 'Given the condensed time frame between now and the start of the season, we are exploring the most efficient way for you to gain entry into games. This information will arrive by mail shortly before the season begins'" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/2). Meanwhile, the WASHINGTON POST's Lee noted the "downside" of the tentative CBA "is that the Obama Classic will have to be postponed until next summer." The fundraising game "was scheduled for Dec. 12" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/1).
