NBA Lockout Watch, Day 40: Owners Could Pursue Share Of Player Endorsements

With the NBA lockout now in its second month, the owners "remain determined to, if not break the union, break its current salary structure," according to a source cited by David Aldridge of the NBA.com. The source said that owners "frequently speak of 'being tired of making these guys rich' and are even contemplating asking for more, such as including income the players receive from their commercial endorsements and sponsorship money into the BRI pot." The belief is that players "wouldn't become famous and able to make such deals if not for the NBA infrastructure that puts them on television and other media." NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter is "trying to hold off agents who want him to go to court and decertify already." But a source indicated that Hunter "is on his own timetable and is not going to be swayed into doing something until he's convinced there's no alternative." The union still "has hope that its own filing with the NLRB accusing the NBA of not negotiating in good faith will be heard sometime this month." Aldridge noted the NBPA "was surprised at the timing of the league's decision to file a lawsuit and an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, though not surprised that the league would ultimately pursue that course of action." Sources said that last week's negotiating session between the owners and players, "while not especially productive on the big issues, was cordial." The two sides "did talk at least a little about non-economic issues in the hopes that some progress could be made on those while they tried to chip away at the big problems" (NBA.com, 8/8).

WHERE DO PLAYERS STAND? On Long Island, Alan Hahn noted it is "much too early in the process for players to start speaking out against the union's stubbornness, but once games are cancelled, you'll start to see the frustration mount." When the opportunities to play in Europe "dry up," players and their agents "will start paying closer attention" to the lockout. One veteran NBA player said, "It never should have gotten to this point. It never should have gotten to a stand off" (NEWSDAY.com, 8/8). In Ft. Lauderdale, Ira Winderman wrote Hunter and NBA Commissioner David Stern "are embarrassing the sport that pays their check by creating an atmosphere of gloom, negativity and arrogance." Winderman: "You have a right to be disappointed. Neither side is managing the lockout particularly well. Money first; fans last" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 8/7).

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE: CBSSPORTS.com's Ken Berger wrote, "What if the top 25 or 30 players in the NBA -- All-Stars and others deserving of that status -- announced their intention to form a rival league?" Short of a "legal shock to the labor negotiations -- for example, the issuing of a complaint against the NBA by the National Labor Relations Board in the next 60 days -- it's difficult to imagine a more effective leverage play than a breakaway league featuring the biggest stars in successful markets." Still, the "logistical challenges would be enormous." The "expense of forming teams, insuring players, leasing arena time, plus hiring coaches and trainers would be a sunk cost once the NBA got back to business" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/8).

PUSH IT BACK: In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel wrote if the NBA lockout ends in October or November, "why would we have to have abbreviated basketball?" The NBA season could "start later and end later." Tramel: "In fact, why does the NBA season always start in late October/early November? Why do the NBA Finals have to be played in June? Wouldn't the NBA be better served with a Dec. 1 tipoff and a July finals?" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 8/8).