In This Thread Every Post Must Contain A Lockout Update

Stern: We have done the best we can.

 

So now the season is starting December 15?

And there will be a preseason if the deal is done??? WTF?

 

KBergCBS Ken Berger
Stern: We have done everything possible given our joint goals of having a sond economic model and having a competitive league.

KBergCBS Ken Berger
Stern: We moved as far as we could move and now we're at where we are at.

FisolaNYDN Frank Isola
Sounds as if David Stern and Adam Silver believe the players will take the deal. But 72 games?

KBergCBS Ken Berger
Stern: We await the response from the union. We've done our best.

 

SpearsNBAYahoo Marc J. Spears
Stern: "I think both sides would like to start the season Dec. 15." Stern added NBA "very much" wants to do revised proposal.

 

Adam Silver: We have a philosophical difference we the union. Player movement goes against competitive balance, and we understand that to improve competitive balance requires restricting player movement. We believe this kind of system would allow more teams to be competitive even in small-markets, allow players to be on better teams, and fans of those teams to have more hope.

 

ChrisMannixSI Chris Mannix
Biggest question will be how costly does the NBA's revised offer make it for teams who cross the luxury tax threshold. Huge issue.

daldridgetnt David Aldridge
Stern: events caused both of us to focus on getting the deal done...

 

Sheridan: Most significant movement made?
Stern: So many that hard to choose. Made several well-intentioned efforts across a variety of concerns. but not appropriate at this time to say anything other than " the union will describe our offer to its membership and its board."

 

Stern & Silver:

Stern: Good evening. We've had another couple of intense days. It's not true that I was in charge of the AC and heat in Billy's room. That was Adam. You know, a couple of hours ago or so, after Peter Holt, Adam and I made a revised proposal to the union which attempted to meet their concerns as best as we and the Labor Relations could. We did that in the context of a possibility that we could have a 72 game season starting on Dec. 15th and we understand that the revised proposal will be presented to the board of the union on Monday, no later than Tuesday. I met will Billy, and just as the clocked stopped on Wednesday, as we negotiated through today, it would remain stopped through his meeting with his board. At that time, if no positive response, the revised offer at 47% and flex cap would be our negotiating position. We appreciate the effort of the executive committee of the union. We dont expect them to like every aspect. There are many teams that dont like many aspects of our proposal. I told Billy that that proposal has the support of the Labor Relations committee and Me/Adam Silver. We await the response from the union.

Is this your last best offer?

You know, we took paying out of respected efforts of everyone to not characterize it that way but if this offer is not accepted, we will revert to our 47% proposal.

How radically different is it? Why not keep going(negotiating)?

Doesn't make sense to keep going here, we made our revised proposal and we don't plan on making another one. Billy said if that's a fact, I will be taking it to my board. As a result, I agreed that the clock will remain stopped until that happens. There is nothing to negotiate about. This is the best attempt by the Labor Committee to express the concerns of the players. We now await the board of unions response.

You guys met for # of hours. How confident are you that union will accept revised proposal?

I will not predict. I can hope the events of next week will lead us to a 72 game schedule on Dec 15th. If we get the right sign, I can call a meeting with the Board of Governors.

Do we know what a 72 game season looks like?

We do. Playoffs would be moved back a week. Finals back a week. We've been in touch with arenas and teams. It takes us to December 15th. There are limits with these arenas. This is about the best we can do on the calendar. We are keeping in touch with our broadcast partners as well. There is constant updating to where we are and we await the unions response.

A week ago, they had until Wednesday. That got you guys back to the table. Now back to that scenario next week. Why is it time to stop negotiating if they come back with a proposal?

We've gone as far as far as the Labor Relations will go. Would've been mean spirited to drop the new proposal on them if they requested to meet. We await their response. There comes a time when you have to be done negotiating and we are.

72 game season or no season?

No.

Do you believe your owners have done everything possible to get this passed?

We've done everything possible that we can do to have a sound economic model and competitive league. Union raised issues, we discussed with committee, and have moved as far as we can move. I'm optimistic the NBA owners will approve it if the Union approves it. We've done our best.

Where is the union proposed on economics?

If they didn't tell you, I'm not going to.

What if I have a guess?

They're not talking about it. I very much respect the way both the union, its exec. committee and our LRC have approached negotiations. We know the seriousness of what we're facing. Both want season to start on Dec 15th if possible. We've done the best we can to cause that to happen. The events of the week had the desired effect to have us focus intensely. We want to make the deal on the table and begin the season. I hope it comes to that and the players accept the revised proposal.

Last night, seemed that while you were talking about the need for competitive balance, players side still talks about if we give here, we get here. A tradeoff. How do you bridge that?

It was clear. They were disappointed in the room. There is a trade off. In order to have competitive balance the way we want, it restricts player movement and feel it will pay off/show that in time. I recognize the players do not see these changes in their self interest. As the economics as well. Its a reduction in the current system. That is something difficult to take. It is a long process. We hope we can come to common ground. But I understand from the union that it is difficult to swallow but over time, we will be proven right for the players, teams, and fans.

What is the most significant movement you guys made in new proposal?

There were so many. I would say that we made several well intentioned efforts to move to them across a variety of concerns but I don't think its appropriate for us at this time to use this occasion to discuss that. The union will describe our offer to its membership and its board and hopefully we see/get a positive development from that.

 

sam_amick Sam Amick
Deals typically done when both sides see something they don't like but could live with. Hunter and Stern both sound that way tonight.

KBergCBS Ken Berger
Stern: We made several well-intentioned efforts to move to them across a variety of concerns.

ChrisMannixSI Chris Mannix
It sounded like Fisher, Hunter want to dissect the offer w/player reps and try to negotiate more. Stern indicating negotiations are over.

 

PDcavsinsider Reed, Boyer
Silver on offer "(it) will create a better league where fans in more markets will be able to hope their teams can compete for championships"

 

sam_amick Sam Amick
Stern: "We don't expect (players) to like every aspect of our revised proposal...Many teams don't like every aspect of our...proposal."

 

FisolaNYDN Frank Isola
The players benefit financially in the NBA plays 72 games as opposed to 60. Fans don't benefit because the product will be poor.

ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
One reason NBPA wants time to discuss w/player reps face to face: Complaints at Tuesday's meeting that more info comes from media than union

 

When do we find out if the players accept the deal?

 

These player reps need to vote and take this offer NOW!!

They say " Let us play", now it's time to put up or shutup.

Commissioner discipline? Stop #%€¥ing around!!!

 

By Monday or Tuesday. If the players don't accept then the NBA goes back to it's "reset" proposal of 47% BRI, flex cap, roll backs, etc.

Tuesday is Doomsday.

 

Would the vote have to be a majority or does it have to be unanimous?

Rockets player rep Lowry would probably accept it.

 

Uh oh...some miscommunication between the union and league?

 

No timetable from the NBA For this offer but the 72 game season is damn intising

 

One last thing, **** you David Checketts!