ducks
06-05-2005, 11:23 PM
The players union made a very reasonable offer to the NBA last week: Forget the negotiations; let's just keep what we have in place, with some minor tweaks. Hard to argue with that. If the goal of negotiations is to ensure that everyone stays wealthy and that all teams have a chance to compete regardless of revenue, then the current deal has been very successful. Two of the best teams in the league--Western Conference finalists San Antonio and Phoenix--are based in small markets and rank Nos. 24 and 25 in total salary payouts. Essentially, the league's goal in the labor dispute is to implement rules that will protect the owners from overpaying players on long-term deals--in other words, the league wants to protect the owners from themselves. Despite the impasse, one general manager says, "There will be a deal because both sides want one and because they're really not that far apart." One prominent agent agrees, saying, "It could very well get done before July 1," which iswhen the current deal expires. . .
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=insidedishpivotaloffseas&prov=tsn&type=lgns
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=insidedishpivotaloffseas&prov=tsn&type=lgns