NBA Lockout Negotiations Fall On Deaf Ears as Agreement Not Reached
September 14, 2011
National Basketball Association (NBA) owners and players made “little or no progress” during five hours of talks aimed at ending the lockout, ed union Executive Director Billy Huntersaid, ailment ending any optimism that emerged from last week’s meetings.
National Basketball Players Association President (NBPA) Derek Fisher, buy Point Guard of the Los Angeles Lakers said the continued deadlock makes it less likely that the regular season, set to begin on Nov. 1, will start on time. No talks are scheduled.
Fisher told reporters: “We’re not marching toward getting a deal done at this time because of the calendar, we can’t come out of here feeling training camp and the season will start on time.”
The groups exchanged economic proposals during meetings last week, NBA Commissioner David Stern told reporters today, saying that the sides are “on the road” to reaching agreement on the economics of a new deal.
The owners are looking for a new salary-cap system, how much each team can pay its players and to improve competitive balance in the league. The union’s concessions are tied to keeping the system unchanged to continue the contract security that players currently enjoy.
Adam Silver, NBA Deputy Commissioner, said “It shouldn’t be the case that they’re coming in to tell us if they’re willing to make economic concessions, we should be willing to accept the existing system, which from our perspective doesn’t work.”