We may just have an NBA season afterall....

[Mr.247]

Can you smell it?

GIFSoup

The Sense of urgency from both the Owners and Players. (Especially the Owners)

At first they weren't budging, with their my way or the highway routine....all of a sudden they are open to discussion. I guess they're seeing that the Highway isn't so bad for the players. Especially the ones that aren't as popular.

NBA, Union To Meet - ESPN Video - ESPN

Officials from the NBA and the players' union will meet again Wednesday in New York City, according to sources close to the situation.

The meeting will be only the third since the league locked out its players on July 1. But if Wednesday's meeting is productive, sources said the sides are expected to pick up the pace and come together again Thursday and perhaps Friday.

The meeting will include only a handful of representatives from each side, as was the case last week when the parties met for six hours.

Commissioner David Stern, deputy commissioner Adam Silver and San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt, the chairman of the owners' labor relations committee, will represent the league. Union director Billy Hunter, counsel Ron Klempner and president Derek Fisher will attend for the players.

While the gulf between the two sides remains huge, sources say the tone of last week's meeting was productive and provided at least a small degree of optimism that the season could be salvaged. With roughly two weeks remaining before training camps would have to be canceled, the sense of urgency to get a deal done has picked up on both sides.

Plus another possible meeting on Friday.

Sounds good!

 

[DCguy]

They need to get this done. If they miss a significant part of the season, both sides lose.

 

[X]

The NFL wasn't in quite the mess the NBA is, tho. Salaries are outta control in the NBA. Hell, the "mid-level exception" thing is a joke. what is it like $5MM for an aging vet that won't go against your cap?

that's dumb.

 

[scottiepippen1994]

Can you smell it?

GIFSoup

The Sense of urgency from both the Owners and Players. (Especially the Owners)

At first they weren't budging, with their my way or the highway routine....all of a sudden they are open to discussion. I guess they're seeing that the Highway isn't so bad for the players. Especially the ones that aren't as popular.

NBA, Union To Meet - ESPN Video - ESPN

Officials from the NBA and the players' union will meet again Wednesday in New York City, according to sources close to the situation.

The meeting will be only the third since the league locked out its players on July 1. But if Wednesday's meeting is productive, sources said the sides are expected to pick up the pace and come together again Thursday and perhaps Friday.

The meeting will include only a handful of representatives from each side, as was the case last week when the parties met for six hours.

Commissioner David Stern, deputy commissioner Adam Silver and San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt, the chairman of the owners' labor relations committee, will represent the league. Union director Billy Hunter, counsel Ron Klempner and president Derek Fisher will attend for the players.

While the gulf between the two sides remains huge, sources say the tone of last week's meeting was productive and provided at least a small degree of optimism that the season could be salvaged. With roughly two weeks remaining before training camps would have to be canceled, the sense of urgency to get a deal done has picked up on both sides.

Plus another possible meeting on Friday.

Sounds good!

Sounds great...there is a light in the tunnel, I hope they go to it...

 

[DCguy]

The NFL wasn't in quite the mess the NBA is, tho. Salaries are outta control in the NBA. Hell, the "mid-level exception" thing is a joke. what is it like $5MM for an aging vet that won't go against your cap?

that's dumb.

The owners made that mess and the players just exploited it. Ultimately the players will have to give back some to help the owners, but the owners will eventually realise that they will have to clean up their mess and make smarter decisions.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

there has to be concessions on both side,obviously, for this to work

the players are exploiting the NBA market in terms of increasing salaries, and basically "raising the bar"..although in some cases it is their choice to exploit supply and demand and use leverage to get a higher salary..

but i agree mostly that the owners do have quite a bit to blame for arguably abusing the salary cap as well as other things...

and obviously there's blame for david stern for handling the looming situation inadequately..not to mention just the thought of two lockouts in 13 years...yikes

anyway, i do think there's some positive vibes going around,and that there is a sense of trying to meet a middle ground, but its hard to find a middle ground even in desperation when the two sides are so far apart, thats what makes this a more complicated and messy situation than the NFL

Financially, i wouldnt say the NBA is doing too bad in terms of revenue and exposure(though i cant be sure this is just what i've heard..statistics might contradict here)..but it still doesnt make up for the way the owners handle their business,use of the salary cap,inflation which are some of the big issues that make up this whole dispute

 

[houheffna]

I am crossing my fingers hoping for the best...here is another article from Chris Sheridan on the matter, he used to write for ESPN...

NBA Lockout Update: Sides are closer than they’re saying | SheridanHoops

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

I am crossing my fingers hoping for the best...here is another article from Chris Sheridan on the matter, he used to write for ESPN...

NBA Lockout Update: Sides are closer than they’re saying | SheridanHoops

in this case, i hope he's right and im wrong

 

[nwfisch]

Code you're always wrong. It'd be sad to lose a year of Derrick's production, and a year on his contract.

 

[Crystallas]

I always thought of this lockout ending thanks to the Kobe rules. That if the NBA loses a year of Kobe's production on the books at this point of his career, that it would be very difficult to retain the level of popularity after a botched season. Of course, there are so many other variables, too many to name, but this is the one that gets ignored, but may play a larger role subconsciously at those looking at dollar-signs.

 

[houheffna]

I always thought of this lockout ending thanks to the Kobe rules. That if the NBA loses a year of Kobe's production on the books at this point of his career, that it would be very difficult to retain the level of popularity after a botched season. Of course, there are so many other variables, too many to name, but this is the one that gets ignored, but may play a larger role subconsciously at those looking at dollar-signs.

I think the Lakers are a part of it, but there are so many storylines...whether the Lakers are for real or should be broken up...that will be answered this coming season. The Celtics are another team to watch. How much can OKC improve, is Memphis for real...how good can Dallas be for one more year. And of course, the Heat are the number one attraction. Throw in competitive teams in Chicago and New York and I don't see how they let this season slide...

 

[nwfisch]

How can the owners honestly pass up the highest popularity for the NBA in more than a decade.

 

[Chi-Town Brahma]

They need to get this done. If they miss a significant part of the season, both sides lose.

So true.

 

[Bullsman24]

The NFL wasn't in quite the mess the NBA is, tho. Salaries are outta control in the NBA. Hell, the "mid-level exception" thing is a joke. what is it like $5MM for an aging vet that won't go against your cap?

that's dumb.

that's not the players fault, it's the GM and owners

 

[Uman85]

Of course a lockout is going to hurt any league if it occurs, but like what was said earlier, if the season is locked out in the NBA this year it would be a huge disappointment with popularity on the rise.

 

[Glide2keva]

that's not the players fault, it's the GM and owners

Seriously.

They complain that players make too much money and that the owners and teams are losing money left and right. Well who's fault is that?

The owners started this when the Magic signed Shaq to that first 41 Million dollar contract back in the 90's, when the Nets signed Derrick Coleman to that 87 (or so) Million dollar contract, when they implemented the Larry bird exception, when they started drafting scared and signing busts to huge contracts, like Eddy Curry, when KG turned down $183 Million from MN and then signed for $234 Million This situation is solely on the owners.

They are the ones who pay the players, you mean to tell me that they can't say "this is asinine."?

You can't expect a player to look at those dollars and say, "nah man, you need to make money too."

 

[Mr.247]

More Positive News!!!

Click Picture Link:

 

[scottiepippen1994]

Can you smell it?

GIFSoup

The Sense of urgency from both the Owners and Players. (Especially the Owners)

At first they weren't budging, with their my way or the highway routine....all of a sudden they are open to discussion. I guess they're seeing that the Highway isn't so bad for the players. Especially the ones that aren't as popular.

NBA, Union To Meet - ESPN Video - ESPN

Officials from the NBA and the players' union will meet again Wednesday in New York City, according to sources close to the situation.

The meeting will be only the third since the league locked out its players on July 1. But if Wednesday's meeting is productive, sources said the sides are expected to pick up the pace and come together again Thursday and perhaps Friday.

The meeting will include only a handful of representatives from each side, as was the case last week when the parties met for six hours.

Commissioner David Stern, deputy commissioner Adam Silver and San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt, the chairman of the owners' labor relations committee, will represent the league. Union director Billy Hunter, counsel Ron Klempner and president Derek Fisher will attend for the players.

While the gulf between the two sides remains huge, sources say the tone of last week's meeting was productive and provided at least a small degree of optimism that the season could be salvaged. With roughly two weeks remaining before training camps would have to be canceled, the sense of urgency to get a deal done has picked up on both sides.

Plus another possible meeting on Friday.

Sounds good!

You might be right Mr247
According to this new article, its Looking good that the season may happen sooner than expected.
Derrick Fisher has reportedly been texting players to be in game shape and ready to play for the regular season. Link below........

Report: Fisher sent players text saying to b - 09-12-2011

That's the best news in some time..got my fingers crossed.

GIFSoup

 

[DCguy]

The first three paragraphs are pertaining to the lockout meetings this week.

NBA PM: Major Progress on Labor Front? | HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors