Union chief Billy Hunter said Thursday "it's obvious the lockout will happen tonight" after players and owners failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, potentially putting the 2011-12 season in jeopardy.
Despite a three-hour meeting Thursday and a final proposal from the players, the sides could not close the enormous gap that remained in their positions.
"The gap is too great," Hunter said.
The CBA expires at midnight, after which all league business is officially on hold, starting with the free agency period that would have opened Friday.
Commissioner David Stern said "with some sadness" he would recommend later Thursday to the labor relations committee that the first lockout since the 1998-99 season be imposed.
"Needless to say we're disappointed that this is where we find ourselves," Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said.
Hunter said he hopes the two sides will meet again in the next two weeks.
The last lockout reduced the 1998-99 season to just a 50-game schedule, the only time the NBA missed games for a work stoppage. Hunter said it's too early to be concerned about that.
"I hope it doesn't come down to that. Obviously, the clock is now running with regard to whether or not there will or will be a loss of games, and so I'm hoping that over the next month or so that there will be sort of a softening on their side and maybe we have to soften our position as well."
The players' association seems unlikely, at least for now, to follow the NFLPA's model by decertifying and taking the battle into the court system, instead choosing to continue negotiations. Hunter said last week he felt owners believe the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, which is debating the legality of the NFL's lockout, will uphold employers' rights to impose lockouts.
The NBA's summer league in Las Vegas already has been canceled, preseason games in Europe were never scheduled, and players might have to decide if they want to risk playing in this summer's Olympic qualifying tournaments without the NBA's help in securing insurance in case of injury.
Training camps usually open the last week of September and the regular season about a month later.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
NBA Draft 2011 Trade Breakdown
The 2011 NBA draft produced a number of trades, none bigger than the first of the day: a three-team deal between the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats that involved three first-round picks and five players, including Stephen Jackson(notes). Here are the particulars of each of the day’s trades.
Kings-Bucks-Bobcats: The Kings traded the draft rights to forward Bismack Biyombo (No. 7) to the Bobcats and guard Beno Udrih(notes) to the Bucks for forward John Salmons(notes) and the draft rights to guard Jimmer Fredette (No. 10). The Bucks also received Jackson and guard Shaun Livingston(notes) and the draft rights to Tobias Harris (No. 19). The Bobcats also received forward Corey Maggette(notes) – Story.
Timberwolves-Rockets-Bulls: The Minnesota Timberwolves traded guard Jonny Flynn(notes) and the draft rights to Donatas Motiejunas (No. 20) to the Houston Rockets for center Brad Miller(notes), the draft rights to Nikola Mirotic (No. 23), Chandler Parsons (No. 38) and a future first-round pick. The Timberwolves traded Mirotic’s rights to the Chicago Bulls for the rights to Norris Cole (No. 28) and Malcolm Lee (No. 43). The Timberwolves then sold the rights to Parsons back to the Rockets. – Story.
Nets-Celtics: The New Jersey Nets traded the draft rights to JaJuan Johnson (No. 27) and a 2014 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for the draft rights to Marshon Brooks (No. 25) – Story.
Blazers-Nuggets-Mavericks: The Denver Nuggets traded guard Raymond Felton(notes) to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Andre Miller(notes) and the draft rights to Jordan Hamilton and a future second-round pick. The Trail Blazers traded guard Rudy Fernandez(notes) and the draft rights to Petteri Koponento (No. 30, 2007) to the Dallas Mavericks. The Trail Blazers also received the draft rights to Tanguy Ngombo (No. 57) – Story.
Timberwolves-Heat: The Timberwolves traded Norris Cole (No. 28) to the Miami Heat for the draft rights to Bojan Bogdanovic (No. 31), a future second-round pick and cash considerations – Story.
Timberwolves-Nets: The Timberwolves traded the draft rights to Bojan Bogdanovic (No. 31) for a future second-round and cash. Story.
Cavaliers-Magic: The Cleveland Cavaliers traded the draft rights to Justin Harper (No. 32) to the Orlando Magic for two future second-round picks. Story.
Bobcats-Warriors: The Bobcats traded the draft rights to Jeremy Tyler (No. 39) to the Golden State Warriors for cash considerations. Story.
Hornets-Knicks: The New Orleans Hornets traded the draft rights to Josh Harrellson (No. 45) to the New York Knicks for cash considerations – Story.
Lakers-Nuggets: The Los Angeles Lakers traded the draft rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum (No. 56) for a future second-round pick.
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