Commish: Sides 'far apart' on labor deal(NBA)
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Topdawg13New MemberOP
"I think one of the owners indicated at the conclusion of today's meeting that he was very pessimistic as to whether or not they'd be able to reach an accord between now and the end of the month, and I'm forced to share that sentiment," union executive director Billy Hunter said Wednesday. "I think maybe it's going to be a difficult struggle."
Representatives of the owners and players completed a second day of meetings, scheduled two more for next week and expressed hope that continued dialogue before the June 30 expiration of the collective bargaining agreement could head off a work stoppage.
Yet the players reiterated their opposition to a hard salary cap, reduction in contract lengths and the amount for which they could be guaranteed and said owners haven't budged on their desire for all three.
"No change at all. What has changed is maybe the mechanism, the system somewhat in maybe how we get there. We tossed around some ideas in that regard, but there is no hiding the fact that the main components of what we originally received in their proposal have not changed at all," union president Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers said. "So from that standpoint, there hasn't been much of a negotiation because that really hasn't changed."
Owners are seeking an overhaul of the system after losses of hundreds of millions of dollars annually during the current CBA, which was ratified in 2005. They believe they could get the relief they seek through a hard cap that would replace the current soft cap system that allows teams to exceed the limit under certain exceptions.
"We do not believe that a hard salary cap system is something that is good for basketball," Fisher said.
Well, this sucks............ 
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
--Edmund Burke
PhiNominaforum_veteranI just struggle to see how the players are going to win this one. The system is obviously broke. Guaranteed contracts and the length of those deals are putting most franchises under.
You can say it is the FO fault, but it is a Catch-22 for owners because if they don't try to sign guys and make the team better, the fans aren't going to show up. So either they overspend on FA or they suck and can't sell tickets.
padre31luxury_boxAgree Phinomina, to me the solution is a set percentage buyout that is mandatory in every contract, the guarantee isn't the problem it is the fact there is no escape hatch, a set percentage, say 20% that does not count against a Cap moving forwards would make a ton of sense and get rid of some of the nonsense of trading for a contract to create cap space the following season.
Jermaine O'Neal for 18 million? Sure that way when his deal expires we have cap space!...that is insanity.
PhiNominaforum_veteranExactly - the fact that expiring contracts are the greatest trade asset is a joke. It also widens the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" because teams that can take on salary have a huge advantage.
Look at the Cavs - they were willing to take on Baron Davis' RIDICULOUS deal and it netted them the first pick. It is less about being a good GM and more about taking advantage of bad GMs.
And this is coming from a Cavs fan.
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