The season won’t be cancelled, the season will be cancelled; the negotiations are on, the negotiations are off; we’ll (European clubs) sign the players, we won’t sign the players. Confusion remains in the best basketball league in the world.
The NBA players are still locked-out and talks remain stalled.
Responding to a question regarding where negotiations are at in a recent podcast, NBA commissioner David Stern said that the demands from players were too demanding.
Stern’s answer to the follow up inquiring about what he went back with, the commissioner replied that he walked away from the table – they asked for too much.
Over the last several weeks there has been ample discussion about players taking their talent overseas – Turkey, China and Spain are three areas that have the ears of the NBA stars.
However, a recent decision by FIBA (the Swiss-based international governing body for basketball) enables players to go back to the NBA to fulfill their existing contracts should the lockout be resolved.
This hasn’t been well received from European leagues; the CEO and president of the Euroleague said that European teams need to have in place stable rosters, and that it would be difficult or wrong of a club to sign a player without knowing if they will be playing for them for one month, two months, who knows how long they will play in the world’s second best competition.
The NBA lockout has been a positive for the Euroleague and other leagues such as China it has become a showcase opportunity.
Several weeks ago, NBPA executive director Billy Hunter stated publicly that the NBA season is more than likely to be cancelled in whole; David Stern believes the situations will be worked out, and players are undecided and searching the market or preparing for when games commence.
For Australian basketball, the FIBA decision means that the chance of signing Patrick Mills is all but gone. The acquisition and return home for Mills would’ve been a great promotional means for the NBL and the augmentation of basketball in Australia.
The current NBA lockout has much more to come. Stay tuned.
traread
Guest
Correction - the Derek Fisher Interview was in the July 25th edition of Sports Illustrated.
traread
Guest
@amazonfan Have a listen to the BS Report with David Stern, it gives you a good outline of the owners side of the arguement. The July 25th edition of ESPN the Magazine has a good interview with Derek Fisher about the players side of the discussions also.
mushi
Guest
I thought the issue at the heart of it was more the actual revenue split given the max contract is the best tool for an owner in basketball. Length is also an issue which I think is fair enough given they are the only sport I know of with 6 year guarantees
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Actually, I read an article which stated that while the NBAPA was accused of cancelling a meeting, the NBAPA claims it was never even scheduled.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
That's true, and I wasn't suggesting that they turn off the taps, however a major complaint of the owners was that they signed maximum contracts which didn't work out. They refuse to take any responsibility for their poor decisions.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Do you have any sources relating to this? I'm genuinely asking.
mushi
Guest
Hey Amazon you know there is a prescribed minimum salary spend for the league right so the owners can’t just turn the tap off like you suggest.
traread
Guest
this is why they are taking legal action against the players.
traread
Guest
He is setting up meetings to discuss the current situation. The NBAPA are either cancelling or not turning up. It happened in Miami in June and it happened again last month in New York.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
How is Stern trying to negotiate?
traread
Guest
@rocketsfan Stern is trying to negotiate... it's the players that don't want to 'play ball' (pardon the pun) in the boardroom.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Completely disagree. The owners don't like that the players receive too much money? Poor babies. They are the ones who pay the money, and they continue to pay big money, and continue to buy teams, even though they complain they are losing money. As for arrogance, that epitomizes David Stern!
camcallsthegame
Roar Pro
That's right @Rocketsfan - it takes both sides and the NBA have walked away without coming back with what they want. Hopefully we see several stars play overseas as it will bring bball back into the limelight. Kevin Durrant is very close to signing with an international team.
rocketsfan
Guest
I dont think we will see any NBA until mid febuary,The owners want to destroy the players union stern says the players are asking for too much but is'nt negotiating with them it's like if i'm selling a car and was asking for $20,000 and you put in a lower bid then i walk away thats not how you haggle c'mon guys lets get together and get a deal worked out there is record interest in the NBA atm and they would be stupid to walk away from that
jbomba
Guest
Great Article!
camcallsthegame
Roar Pro
I listened to David Stern last night and he is amused by what Hunter is saying in public/to the press and the demands that are being made. The players have 'won' the last two times the lock-out came up, so several commentators in the US believe the NBA are attempting to get back at them and come out on top this time. The economic condition in the US needs to be taken into account but they are too reluctant to drop that 75...there is alot left in this issue. The only people/organisation benefiting from this is European and Asian basketball; especially with Euoleague's championship series next month.
traread
Guest
The Owners have the upper hand in this one. The players get too much as it is. The NBAPA is the highest paid union in the world with an average salary of $5m per NBA Player. The Owners aren't asking for too much in this, lowering the pay to the players from 57% of all basketball revenue down to 50% isn't that bad and help basketball out in the long run. David Stern has promised that when the economic climate of the NBA betters itself again, and it will in the coming years, then this will rise again. Shorter contracts and a hard cap are good for the game also, however, I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of them are taken out of the final agreement. Basically the NBAPA have shafted the Owners over the last few negotiations... 57% of all basketball revenue is way way way too high! When they negotiated this deal, the economic climate of the League, the United States and the World was a lot different. They need to get with the times. Billy Hunter needs to get off his arrogant a*se and start negotiating. There will be no season if the players don't start to sit down with the owners and keep cancelling meetings. I fully endorse the NBA's decision to put an anti-trust lawsuit against the Players. Being a Lakers fan, I love Derek Fisher, but as the president of the NBAPA, I don't like how he's approaching these negotiations.