NBA owners expect major labor and financial pain in league's future

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2009/08/05/2009-08-05_nba_owners_expect_major_labor_pains_in_leagues_future.html

BY Mitch Lawrence
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, August 5th 2009, 10:28 AM


Stapleton/Reuters

Ten owners, including the Knicks' James Dolan (l.), meet Tuesday as labor negotiations begin.

Alarmed by the bad economy and struggles of a number of the league's 30 teams, NBA owners continued to paint a bleak financial picture Tuesday in Manhattan when they opened labor negotiations with players on a new contract.

Ten owners, including the Knicks' James Dolan, used the 3-1/2-hour meeting to potentially lay the groundwork for major changes in the current system that pays players 57% of basketball-related income.

Walking out of a midtown hotel with Laker executive Jeanie Buss after the session, Dolan engaged only in small talk with reporters. Owners are under a gag order from commissioner David Stern, who also refused comment.

The two camps called the meeting "productive and cordial."

"There was a preliminary exchange of financial information, but no proposals were made," both sides said in a joint statement. "We both look forward to another meeting before the start of the season."

At the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for September, players expect to hear more lousy financial projections. In informal sessions between the two sides over the last few months, owners have harped on the poor economy and how it has hindered teams and will continue to adversely affect bottom lines. That's why owners exercised their option not to extend the current pact for one more season, covering 2011-12. The current deal has two seasons to run.

Despite the dire projections, the Lakers' Derek Fisher, president of the NBA Players Association, came away with "optimism."

"There seemed to be a feeling in the room that everybody is trying to do the right thing," Fisher said. "I hope that will continue."

But if owners demand major changes to the current system, both sides foresee a long, difficult road to a new deal.

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