Stern Talks About New Revenue-Sharing Plan, Status Of Hornets Ownership

With the NBA approaching the midway point of the season, Commissioner David Stern sat down with TNT's David Aldridge and discussed a variety of issues facing the league. The new CBA deal includes a revised revenue-sharing plan, and Stern said, “We have a system now where teams are going to be able to compete financially if they’re well-managed and we’ll make judgments (to see if the plan works). After two-and-a-half years, we’ll take a look at it. We’ll see how they’re doing on the court, we‘ll see how they’re doing at the gate, we’re going to see how their TV negotiations are going. There are teams that are going to be very happy, and at the same time, they’re going to be held accountable, and that was the deal. They’ll be doing it in an environment that levels the playing field.” Aldridge said, “There are no more excuses, are there?” Stern replied, “No. This is about, ‘Here’s extra money ... and by the way, it’s not about small markets versus large markets.’” Stern: “If you are in a market and over years consistently underperform, the market you’re going to have to look in the mirror."

HORNETS' FUTURE: Stern said the league is “talking to a couple of buyers” to purchase the Hornets and “hopefully in the next couple of weeks, we’ll be able to finalize a deal with one of them." Stern: "We’re down to one in the lead and the second that’s awaiting further events.” The league is “moving on dual-tracks with a buyer and with the state’s contribution under a new lease” and both will “likely be complete by March 1.” Stern said the league “will get a very fair contribution" by the state of Louisiana for the Hornets lease. The new buyer will “sign the lease that is presented, which contains the extra support by the state.” It will not contain an “out clause.” Stern said taking over the Hornets was the right decision because “we had a city that stood by us” and former Hornets Owner George Shinn “was tired and without the resources to continue.”

IMPACT OF THE LOCKOUT: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich did not play F Tim Duncan and G Tony Parker in the team's game against the Trail Blazers last night in order to give them some extra rest. The game is the only time the Spurs will play in Portland this year, and Aldridge asked Stern for his thoughts about coaches resting star players, which denies fans paying for tickets the opportunity to see them play. The commissioner said, “With this compressed season ... you have to give coaches some leeway in terms of marshalling their resources and they’re doing it.” Stern noted attendance is “very strong, up slightly over last year, which was a strong year." He acknowledged the league's international efforts "took a huge decline, because when we don’t play games we don’t have anything to talk about." However, those efforts are "back strong now.”

GOING LINSANE: Stern said the emergence of Knicks G Jeremy Lin has been "fascinating to watch." He said, "I don’t have to make anything of him. I’m enjoying watching the media go tripping along and then sometimes tripping on itself." When Aldridge asked whether the attention Lin has received will be too much to handle, Stern said, “I think it puts him under enormous pressure. Welcome to the NBA. But he seems capable of handling it" (NBA.com, 2/22).