NBA Labor Deal "Within Striking Distance"

On Thursday, the NBA and the NBPA met for more than seven hours in New York City, one day after meetings lasted 15 hours. The tone of the post-meeting comments from both sides was very optimistic and there were intimations that a deal could be reached as soon as Friday.
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Derek Fisher, NBPA president: "We are working through so many different issues, and we are trying to close the gap in each issue, as you try and make a move towards getting a deal done, it gets tougher towards the end. We have to continue to grind at it."

Billy Hunter, NBPA executive director: "I think we're within reach, within striking distance of getting a deal. It's just a question of how receptive the NBA is and whether or not they want to do a deal."

David Stern, NBA commissioner: "I can't tell you we resolved anything in such a big way, but there's an element of continuity, familiarity and I would hope trust that would enable us to look forward to tomorrow, where we anticipate there will be some important and additional progress, or not... There are no guarantees we will get it done but we will give it one heck of a shot tomorrow, and I think that Billy and the union's negotiators feel the same way. And I know that ours do."
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Talks will continue on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m.

Full reports from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (here) and Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (here).

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

7 months ago Ben Golliver 48 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

I'm kind of erked by this statement...

Billy Hunter, NBPA executive director:

“I think we’re within reach, within striking distance of getting a deal. It’s just a question of how receptive the NBA is and whether or not they want to do a deal.”

Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.

by dpnim on Oct 27, 2011 7:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Seriously guys, get it done.

Otherwise I need to interact with my wife this winter.

by Timmay! on Oct 27, 2011 7:39 PM PDT reply actions 6 recs

My wife said the same about me not two weeks ago

I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain_4.html#ixzz1IE4sPu16

by Tyler Durrden on Oct 27, 2011 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Well

1) Git er done, guys

but

2) You’ll probably still want/need to interact at least SOME with your wife…..

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2011 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow this is shocking news .......hard to believe it could even be real.

If there is not a deal done by the end of the weekend I think we can safely expect at least half of the season will be lost if not the whole thing. I am no trying tot be negative just a realistic.

"Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes, but no plans."

by SurReal on Oct 27, 2011 7:54 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed, the time is now.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Oct 27, 2011 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I am afraid to get to optimistic

They’re sadistic they like to build you up then cut you down.

The thought sure sounds good though. reading about wins and losses and what should have been or could have been and not about a bunch of egotistical clowns arguing over bragging rights.

by BBK on Oct 27, 2011 8:08 PM PDT reply actions

fingers crossed.... but hopes arent to high

praying
chanting
burning sage
throw salt over my shoulder
spin around 7 times
up down up down left right left right a b a b select start!

git-r-done!

by cavejunctionblazer on Oct 27, 2011 8:08 PM PDT reply actions

fingers crossed.... but hopes arent to high

praying
chanting
burning sage
throw salt over my shoulder
spin around 7 times
up down up down left right left right a b a b select start!

git-r-done!

by cavejunctionblazer on Oct 27, 2011 8:10 PM PDT reply actions

I really think they get it done by Monday

Structural changes are probably needed, but this lockout doesn’t benefit either side. I’m actually optimistic.

Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.

by blazeraddict on Oct 27, 2011 8:24 PM PDT reply actions

Wait!

Here comes Paul Allen again!

—Dave

by Dave on Oct 27, 2011 8:40 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Too soon

Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.

by blazeraddict on Oct 27, 2011 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Not cool Dave.

Definitely not cool

Now accepting free tickets and drinks for the 2010/11 season!

by MikeIrish on Oct 27, 2011 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Me, I'm betting on at least one more meltdown (maybe two)

Wouldn’t mind eating some crow on that prediction though.

by Corvid on Oct 27, 2011 8:45 PM PDT reply actions

I feel the same way, it all sounds too good to be true.

I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain_4.html#ixzz1IE4sPu16

by Tyler Durrden on Oct 27, 2011 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Hehe, she said crow

by Norsktroll on Oct 28, 2011 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions

No discussion on the BRI split means..

The most important issue is being ignored. The players are only dancing around trying to avoid the real issue. The final negotiating will start when the BRI split is discussed.

by oldfishermen on Oct 27, 2011 9:31 PM PDT reply actions

That's the kicker, isn't it?

And if things break down tomorrow, what are the odds that it’s because of BRI split?

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2011 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions

This is one time when I wish that yesterday's premonition wouldn't have been right....

Grrrrrrrr…..

by Storyteller on Oct 28, 2011 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

It has been said

The BRI is in close ties with the system issues. if one goes up then the other can come down. So to get one out of the way, paves way for the other. If the players don’t get burnt on luxury tax issues, they can be more lenient on BRI. Anyway that is the way I understand it.

by BBK on Oct 27, 2011 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you're right about that.

Give the players some concessions on the systemic issues, but make them agree to a 50-50 BRI split.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Oct 27, 2011 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Here's some hope

but the owners don’t want to permit teams paying luxury tax to be able to sign players to the midlevel and bi-annual exceptions, a source said.

Please owners – stand firm on this one.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Oct 27, 2011 9:31 PM PDT reply actions

Oh wow, that would be a huge change.

by Timmay! on Oct 27, 2011 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Or to be be able to make sign and trade deals

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2011 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Mr. Storyteller

It has been said that it takes about 2 wks to right up the proper language after a hand shake deal is made; What I am wondering is if the lock-out is settled tomorrow could the players start practicing at the owners facility now or do they have to wait? Can they start talking to free agents now or do they have to wait? Otherwise when does BB business get back to normal?

by BBK on Oct 27, 2011 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions

That's Write up proper language.

by BBK on Oct 27, 2011 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions

best guess

they could open up facilities for players under contract immediately.

they could likely talk to free agents, but not officially sign anyone until final language is drawn up.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Oct 27, 2011 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd have to go try and find a timeline

I seem to remember, though, in 1999 that training camp couldn’t start until the actual signing of the new CBA (after the two week or so period needed to write it up). But because of the handshake agreement – and votes by both the NBPA and the BofG previous to that – teams could actually sign free agents and make trades before the CBA was signed.

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2011 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

i didn't mean training camp, I meant opening up the training facilities

per the original question

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Oct 28, 2011 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions

BTW, Mr. Storyteller was my dad

no need to be formal…. :)

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2011 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

That wasn't meant to be formal.

Just being a smart -. Like I call Sarah Hatcht Miss Sarah. did not mean any offense by it.

by BBK on Oct 28, 2011 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Ha ha

Just being a smart -.

Me, too…. :)

by Storyteller on Oct 28, 2011 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

yes, exactly

I still seriously hope for some restrictions on transferring of Bird rights too, but I’m losing optimism on many of the system issues.

my biggest fear is that the owners will ultimately trade most of the systems issues away for BRI favor ability, which will be seen as a huge lost opportunity in my book.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Oct 27, 2011 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Fiddling with Bird rights would make for a complicated mess.

Besides, ridding of sign-and-trade deals would go a long way in accomplishing your core objective.

On thing that should be done with Bird rights, however, is players who’ve been out of the league for three full seasons ought to lose them. That includes unofficially retired players (e.g., Rik Smits, Pat Garrity, Robert Horry, et al.) or guys who went on to play elsewhere (e.g., Maciej Lampe). With a rule like this, Wally Szczerbiak and Damon Jones are guys who’d lose their Bird rights in the summer of 2012.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Oct 27, 2011 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions

3? why not make it 2

i know you and I have rehashed this bird rights thing in a dozen threads over the past week, so let’s just agree to disagree. and no, I don’t think ridding of sign and trades will accomplish the same thing. in any case, it sounds like S&Ts will still be in the CBA unfortunately.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Oct 28, 2011 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd make it three, as a guy could sit out a of couple years and perhaps make a comeback.

For example, Josh Childress would’ve lost his Bird rights in that scenario if it was a two-year window. Then again, a RFA who’s still getting a QO tendered to him each summer in spite of playing overseas should retain his Bird rights. That’d be the exception, though.

Besides, this has got more to do with all the unofficially retired players whose Bird rights — whether they be full, early, or non- — are on the books for teams that haven’t been under the cap in over a decade. Take the Los Angeles Lakers for example, which has still got rights to players such as Ron Harper, Shammond Williams, Karl Malone, Brian Shaw, Horace Grant, Ira Newble, Jim Jackson, John Salley, and Mitch Richmond. That’s what ought to be cleared out.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Oct 28, 2011 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions

yeah, i see a distinction between a guy playing in another league, and a guy not playing at all

in another league, team keeps your rights indefinately, as long as that QO keeps getting tendered.

at home on the couch, I’d wipe it after 2 years. heck, even 1

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Oct 28, 2011 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Is that the same as paying retired congress people salaries for the rest of their LIVES

The same one that says retirement is supposed to be set up by individuals and SS is just a secondary retirement. The Bird Rights is just paying for retirement, when it should be the responsibility of the player.

Therefore, I agree that 3 or 4 years is all that should be paid for birds rights. Although Greg is approaching that mark.

by BBK on Oct 28, 2011 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Nah, this isn't a retirement fund. It's just teams retaining rights to players.

Also, Greg Oden has been under contract this whole time; thus, his situation doesn’t apply here.

For Portland, Travis Diener is the right now lone guy who fits this description. Diener, who’s a non-qualifying veteran free agent with non-Bird rights, carries a $884,293 cap hold on the Trail Blazers books this off-season.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Oct 28, 2011 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm down with that.

If a team is over the luxury tax entering the free agency period post-moratorium, then no MLE or BAE for ’em.

Yet, I’d like to see the BAE scrapped altogether. It’s a pretty meaningless exception anyway.

Back to the original idea, though, that may prove to be very problematic for the Trail Blazers this off-season. Counting Greg Oden’s cap hold, Portland will be above the luxury tax threshold heading into this year’s free agency period.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Oct 27, 2011 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm still guessing the BAE is toast...

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2011 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Please be true!..

I really need me some Blazer games…

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Oct 27, 2011 9:33 PM PDT reply actions

Hmm...

…I don’t know if it’s good or bad…or anything really. But in my opinion Billy Hunter and Derek Fishers statements sound a lot more optimistic than David Sterns. Hunter " I think we are within reach" and Fishers “It gets tougher towards the end” suggest to me that they are thinking resolution. Sterns proclamation " I can’t tell you we’ve resolved anything in a big way"….not as optimistic.

But since in the past, meetings were usually ended with an unanimous “We’re Miles Apart!” I’ve got to think this is something better. Maybe? Please…humor me….

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Oct 27, 2011 10:35 PM PDT reply actions