Smith: Blazers F LaMarcus Aldridge Ready To Vote On NBA's Proposal?

by Ben Golliver on Nov 7, 2011 4:46 PM PST in News

Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is open to the idea of voting on the NBA's current offer to the players.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake is making a behind-the-scenes effort to get the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to vote on owners' latest collective bargaining agreement proposal before a Wednesday deadline, a source told The Salt Lake Tribune on Monday.

The veteran guard has recently contacted Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant and Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, among others, according to the source. Bryant rivals LeBron James as the most popular athlete in the NBA, while Aldridge is Portland's player representative. Both were open to the idea of pushing for a vote, the source said.

Aldridge didn't have any comments of major substance on the lockout during his Sunday night charity game at the University of Portland but Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reported that Aldridge is heading to New York City to attend meetings as part of his NBPA representative duties.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported on Monday that the NBA and NBPA could meet on Tuesday in advance of the NBA's deadline on its current offer, which is set to pass at the end of business on Wednesday.

Update: Totally missed the fact that CleBlazer had this first in the FanShots. Thanks and sorry!

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

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VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!!!!

Good job Stevie…and props to Kobe for coming out and saying what he did. It only makes sense that this goes to a vote before a select few choose to sacrifice a full season. If this goes to a vote I’m confident it will pass.

The thing that’s puzzled me about this whole process is how decertifying, holding out, etc… is going to result in the players getting a better, not worse, deal for themselves in the end.

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Nov 7, 2011 5:02 PM PST reply actions

I think the NBPA is doing more damage then anyone

I really don’t think they have the players as a whole in mind. I would bet that most NBA players would have signed a deal months ago to get the season started. This is why I don’t agree with the Union idea. I don’t believe Unions really have there members best interest in mind, but just there own.

by AR-15 on Nov 7, 2011 5:08 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Un-rec

Unions are rad. I wish the service industry had more of them. Nobody fights for us. We just have to hope the minimum wage increases enough to support us (which it doesn’t, and it likely never will, begging the question minimum of what?).

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Nov 7, 2011 5:13 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

not to politicize this one way or the other

but I do feel that in this specific circumstance, ego/arrogance/pride/shortsightedness/whatever is resulting in the NBPA’s negotiating team not representing the best interests of its members. I’d feel differently if I saw a potential course of events that resulted in the players receiving a better deal than the one currently on the table, but I literally see absolutely no way that happens. The chances of it aren’t small in my opinion, they are non-existent.

But again, that is not in any way a commentary on unions in general. I do support my friends Adam and AR-15 though!

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Nov 7, 2011 5:36 PM PST up reply actions

This has been a rough off season for me.

I always support labor and unions out of principle, but when the labor is made up multimillionaires and the union is behaving like children… Oy.

Can we just watch some basketball, please?

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Nov 7, 2011 5:47 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

amen my brother

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Nov 7, 2011 5:52 PM PST up reply actions

we don't pay any of our people min wage

But we often pay prevailing wage. If we didn’t have to pay 18 yr olds with no brains $35or $45/hr to pick up trash on sa job site, there would be a lot more money to spread around to those that earn it. Where does prevailing wage come from? Union lobbying – forcing non-shops to pay the highest wages while union shops get away with apprentice scales. Unions know this, and will provide kickbacks to union shops to skew the competitive market. Rather than use my own employees to self-perform work, I am forced to subcontract to union shops to stay competitive. Unions are evil – spending union dues to control markets and squeeze free market employers.

Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

by blacknoiseNW on Nov 7, 2011 6:08 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I'm not a fan of unions

But I totally did not get what you’re talking about. I think you just hurt your own case.

Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!

by HailOden! on Nov 7, 2011 6:55 PM PST up reply actions

Prevailing wage

The point that I believe blacknoiseNW is making is the inherent negotiating disadvantage non-union businesses can have in competing for public works contracts and other contracts that companies choose to bid out using a “prevailing wage” standard.

Instead of being allowed to bid the cost that the business would normally charge. They are instead required to inflate their wage costs to pay the average union salary to each employee on the job…thus keeping union contracted businesses in the running for jobs they would be otherwise too expensive for. Artificially inflating the cost to the public, and keeping open shops from having their natural advantage.

In addition he is making the further point that the union backed businesses don’t actually then pay the full wages to all of their workers as they are allowed to pay less to the lower level grunt activities performed by their apprentices in training. These apprentices only receive a percentage of their later full union salaries. The non-union businesses aren’t given the option of making their bids on apprentice scale wages for the equivalent positions.

Thus Non-Union businesses who have lower wage costs are required to submit higher costing bids on wages than the bids made by the union backed businesses by whom the wage enforcement is being enforced to benefit.

If I’m misrepresenting blacknoiseNW I apologize, I think this spells out more fully the argument that he was making and in fact he does not “hurt [his] own case”

Down with the Ruskies

by TheSabasFan on Nov 7, 2011 7:19 PM PST up reply actions

much more eloquently stated

Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

by blacknoiseNW on Nov 7, 2011 7:36 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Ahhh, that makes sense

I’m a wee bit groggy today, so I thought blacknoise was making a comment about the labor market as a whole. I do still think that calling one’s own 18 year old employees “brainless” and calling unions “evil” is damaging to what would be an otherwise reasonable argument, though.

Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!

by HailOden! on Nov 7, 2011 8:27 PM PST up reply actions

Sorry but many companies do pay min wage

Unions have their faults but I wouldn’t want to try to survive in the US without their influence. Just my opinion and don’t appreciate the “evil” comment. I don’t agree with it and it really doesn’t help win people over to call them or their communities evil.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Nov 7, 2011 6:56 PM PST up reply actions

the positive impacts of unions are undeniable

But most of those positive impacts have been assimilated into everyday society, and most of us enjoy those benefits regardless of union membership.

However, unions have a dark side that transcends their auspicious beginnings. Corruption, market manipulation and member exploitation are very real problems affecting all of us.

The NBPA is not the Teamsters, but the idea that they are fighting for a “cause” is the biggest joke of these negotiations. What the players are trying to protect is a partnership status without partnership responsibilities, and they want the majority of income for that privilege.

As a business owner myself, who relies on high value professional employees, it disgusts me to see so many contracts go unearned. Owners invest in players with an expectation of return on that investment. Too often, players fail to honor the expectations and responsibilities of those contracts.

Bottom line is that the modern union, NBPA included, is often far more about wealth sharing than workers rights.

Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

by blacknoiseNW on Nov 7, 2011 8:02 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

It's time to take this to a political site, folks.

We’re looking for basketball talk here, not a springboard into debates that get way into the political spectrum.

by Timmay! on Nov 7, 2011 8:04 PM PST up reply actions

Though I would like to note how impressed I am that you typed all that on a mobile device.

by Timmay! on Nov 7, 2011 8:17 PM PST up reply actions

and i connected it to the topic :)

Long live Droid 3

Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

by blacknoiseNW on Nov 7, 2011 9:45 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Key comment: (nothing to do with unions in general)

What the players are trying to protect is a partnership status without partnership responsibilities, and they want the majority of income for that privilege

Really, and that’s massive majority of the income after all expenses, so much so that some owners have been losing money.

It really is unbelievable that they ever got the old CBA. And now they act like they are getting ripped off not getting such a deal again.

I don’t really have a proble with wealth sharing. Let the owners have a decent share !

Wake me when the game is on.

by Berkeley on Nov 7, 2011 11:45 PM PST up reply actions

Probably better to keep to NBPA perspective

Instead of moving the conversation in this direction.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Nov 7, 2011 6:57 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed

The NBPA is a special case in so many ways. I’d hate to see this thread get derailed by a debate on unions in general.

#letthemvote

by Corvid on Nov 7, 2011 7:49 PM PST up reply actions

They are a necessary evil at worst IMO.

This could probably go way into territory not necessarily applicable to BE. But I will at least say that I have worked for companies where employees don’t need unions and I have worked for others that would not have been very good places to work without them. They certainly have their place and laborers would not enjoy many of the benefits we tend to accept as the norm without union activity throughout history. (40 hour work week, weekends, lunch breaks, etc.)

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Nov 7, 2011 5:39 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I love the weekend so much.

But I think we need to take the siesta.

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Nov 7, 2011 6:53 PM PST up reply actions

That's my thought.

As with most everything, there’s some good and there’s some bad. It’s no different with unions.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Nov 7, 2011 7:47 PM PST up reply actions

#Letthemvote!!!

We have a small portion of 450+ players effectively controlling the union. Let the other players have their say.

by poorwebguy on Nov 7, 2011 5:09 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

I thought of you when I changed my siggy a couple of hours ago.

#letthemvote

by Corvid on Nov 7, 2011 6:05 PM PST up reply actions

Blake with the assist!

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Nov 7, 2011 5:09 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

nazr had an interesting take:

I’m still trying to figure it out. Should know more 2moro. Bcuz this CBA won’t really affect me, I feel it’s my duty to support our union and do what’s best for the young guys who will be FA’s in the near future. As I receive more official info then I can make my decision. #NBALockout #StandUnited #LetUsPlay

https://twitter.com/#!/NazrMohammed

PHILLY!

by CleBlazer on Nov 7, 2011 5:17 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

anyone wonder how this will go over in the l*kers locker room?

Seemed like Blake is going behind Fishsticks’ back here. And they play the same position, on the same team…

"She fell in love with the drummer, another and another"

by Cap'n Crash on Nov 7, 2011 8:20 PM PST via mobile reply actions

I was wondering the same thing...

“Lakers PG fights to end lockout!”
“Lakers PG demands owner concessions!”
“Lakers PG fights Lakers PG in a title bout set to last five three minute rounds in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada!”

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Nov 7, 2011 8:23 PM PST up reply actions

my money would be on Blake

Trained fighter vs. Untrained Negotiator

Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

by blacknoiseNW on Nov 7, 2011 10:00 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

fisher fights dirty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Y7_HmrtA4&feature=related

PHILLY!

by CleBlazer on Nov 7, 2011 10:28 PM PST up reply actions

Ha, that's an angle I didn't even consider

Could make for an interesting training camp, if we ever get there. I think the players have to take this deal. They have no leverage, and the longer this drags on, the more entrenched this group of small market owners is probably going to become. Guys like Blake (a mid-tier vet likely on his last or next to last deal) and the rank and file (i.e. an Armon Johnson type who may have a 2-4 year career) can’t afford to miss out on this type of money. I think we see a deal by the end of this week.

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

by blazeraddict on Nov 7, 2011 9:25 PM PST up reply actions

I bet there is a lot of player conversation going on behind the secnes now.

It will be interesting to see what emerges this week.

Wake me when the game is on.

by Berkeley on Nov 7, 2011 11:47 PM PST reply actions

It's even wilder behind the scenes than it already looks...

The deal, which the union sees as an “ultimatum” offer, calls for players to receive anywhere between 49 and 51 percent of basketball-related income, but the group of displeased owners, the sources said, are hoping the players reject it. The owners are aware that the union’s executive committee is opposed to the league’s latest proposal, but they fear that the 30 player representatives set to meet in New York on Tuesday will push for approval of the deal.

ESPN. This could be intentionally leaked to put pressure on the players, or could make for a very interesting 48 hours.

by Timmay! on Nov 8, 2011 12:18 AM PST up reply actions