Seems talks did end up with a far better
consideration for players being allowed
soon to play some basketball. The date
(right now) that has been set is for
a 72-game schedule starting on Dec. 15.
The league presented the players' association
with the new offer on Thursday after nearly
11 hours of bargaining, hoping it would be
enough to end the lockout. But union president,
Derek Fisher said it doesn't address all of the
necessary system issues that are important to
the players. At least not entirely, as they still
felt some system issues were extremely important
to try and close all of this out.
So at this point the way it appears is that for
right now they have decided to end things and just
take a step back. By doing that, they would go
as an executive committee, as a board and confer
with the players reps. and additional players
over the next few days. I guess after that some
other considerations would be about what the
next step might be at that point.
On Monday or Tuesday, it seems it is possible
to have a new proposal, if good enough, for the
full membership for a vote. They can then say
yes or no, but not bother asking for another meeting.
Commissioner David Stern says that there just simply
comes a time when you have to be through negotiating,
and it has come to this point in time now.
Stern mentioned that it is not the greatest proposal
in the world but he feels he has the obligation to
at least present it on the table. Union executive
director Billy Hunter agrees with this too.
Beyond the salary cap system issues that divide
sides, there were six pages of what Hunter called
ancillary items, such as the draft age and the
commissioner's disciplinary rights, that still must
be addressed before a final deal.
And so it stands thus.
Babs Wells
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