The Players Association and NBA staged one last-ditch, five-hour-plus meeting last night to try to stave off commissioner David Stern’s plan to scratch the first two weeks of the regular season today but no agreement was reached.
The meeting began in a Manhattan hotel at 6:15 p.m. and ended near midnight, with Stern emerging with a “no comment” but offering up slight hope, saying the sides will meet again today at 2 p.m.
Union president Derek Fisher and union director Billy Hunter Jr. announced at midnight their plans to fly to Los Angeles today for a official meeting with players has been canceled because of this encore session. But Fisher said he couldn’t say progress was made. Fisher had sent out an email to implore everyone to attend the L.A. junket.
Asked if Stern will cancel the season’s first two weeks today, Fisher said, “I don’t know.”
There still are many unresolved issues in addition to the major stalemate — the revenue split.
Stern and the owners are stuck on their 50-50 revenue split while the union has set between 52 and 53 percent as its bargaining stance. Neither side figured to move off their percentage last night as Stern, deputy commissioner Adam Silver, and negotiating committee owners Peter Holt of the Spurs and Glen Taylor of the Timberwolves faced off against Fisher and Hunter.
Sources indicated the sides discussed unresolved “system” issues related to the salary cap — luxury tax, maximum contract figures and cap exceptions. Those are items they are closer to an agreement.
Fisher also has sent out notice for players to tweet today with a hashtag #StandUnited. The last official meeting had been Tuesday when negotiations broke off and Stern canceled the preseason.