Bill Hunter is making sure the lockout doesnt end soon

Isn't it obvious? The owners are pissed (and scared) about what happened in Summer 2010. They want restrictions in place to make sure that never happens again. Once players started leaving money on the table, owners took that as a sign that they had given up too much and would make sure the next CBA reverses that mistake.

 

Can't put it all on Hunter. Fisher and Kessler too.

 

So, when Cuban proposed his alternative "no cap" system it was the players who threw it out the window right?? All accounts show that its the owners who dont want to think outside the box to get a deal that works for everyone, they just want all the power in the league.

 

This is true. A very simple fix would be to remove the guaranteed contracts altogether, not that the players will agree to it. Considering the NFL is 4x as physical as the NBA, twice as lucrative, and yet the players have unguaranteed contracts, I'm not sure what the justification for guaranteed contracts are in the NBA. Unguaranteed contracts would ensure every NBA player works hard for their money, and even if the GM whiffs on a FA, he won't be stuck with an Eddy Curry or Rashard Lewis for the next 6 years.

 

Who should have the power, the owners or the employees? If I invested 300M into something I better have the power in the relationship. All a player has to do is play hard and he makes millions. An owner can invest billions into his franchise and still not win a ring. Cuban did everything an owner can do for the past 10 years, and if it weren't for LBJ choking he'd still be ringless right now.

 

If they decertify, I hope like hell they get rid of guaranteed contracts, I would love to see NBA players hustling all the time instead of coasting.

DD

 

Wrong.

#1 The owners have moved.

#2 Dithering by the union has killed progress. If they went to 51% three weeks ago when the owners first went up to 50%, the process would be three weeks further along than now. The union "leadership" is not leadership at all. They are foot-draggers who don't have the guts to tell the players what they don't want to hear. Their complete cluelessness on reading what the other side is willing to give blows my mind.

#3 The owners said up front that in addition to changing the BRI, serious system changes will be implemented. The union still seems to not get that.

 

The difference is that Cuban is a "HAVE" most of the owners are "HAVE NOTS" so Cuban does not have enough people on his side to make a deal.

The "HAVE NOTS" are the ones with the most votes who want to change the system.

They rule the league...and they are doing what is best for them....and ironically the entire league.

DD

 

The owners have "moved" only from their ridiculous position (37% of BRI, seriously?) and they haven't moved at all from their actual position (50-50), while the union has made repeated concessions on every front.

Why is it "dithering by the union" when the union doesn't immediately cave into league demands? They have largely caved (their position now is 51% and 1% to go to retired players). Why does the league have to have a flawless victory, a white flag from the players, and a surrender ceremony where the league gets to say "we broke you, union?" Why does the league deserve to dictate the system changes, and if the union disagrees, it's the "union not getting it"?

I'll quote something Wojnarowski just tweeted:

 

We are "supposed" to be living in a capatalist economic society so yes I agree that the owners have the final say so on what they can or cant pay, but realize this isnt Bank of America we are talking about. The bankers cant just go work at Wells Fargo if BOA lays them off.

The employees or the players represent 100% of the business' product supply and they need products to sell in order to stay in business. The cost of those products are what the market(owners) have dictated.

I have no sympathy for rich playboys who bought a car from a Mercedes dealership and now are trying get a rebate on their car because they claim that they were really could only afford to buy a Honda in the first place. Pay your employees or sell your company. Dont parade them around to the public as if they are the reason why your going out of business. Regardless of how much money they make.

 

The owners original position was 43% of BRI (seriously!), was adjusted to 46% and then to 47%. Then 50% was offered 3-4 weeks ago. If the season is cancelled, the original 43% is likely what the players will get.

So, yes, the union has indeed dithered and wasted a bunch of everyone's time by completely misgauging the owners' resolve. If they don't wake up in a hurry, in a few months the union will know what it's like to be broken.