[新聞] Union chief planning session with Stern
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4672597
Union chief planning session with Stern
NEW YORK -- NBA players' association director Billy Hunter plans another
negotiating session soon with commissioner David Stern, and here's something
that might come up.
The union says total player compensation will fall this season, which would
be only the second drop in the salary cap era that began in the 1984-85
season.
The amount of the drop can't be determined yet, since more deals will be
signed during the season. Nor is it particularly surprising given the
economic difficulties some teams have faced.
The league warned clubs during the summer of an impending drop in next
season's salary cap, and some were careful with their spending. Veterans such
as Allen Iverson found limited to no interest, while restricted free agents
such as New York's David Lee and Nate Robinson, and Charlotte's Raymond
Felton couldn't even get an offer from anyone beyond their own teams.
"We have some concern, but I think a lot of it has to do with the system,"
Hunter said Thursday. "I think it has to do with the economy, I think it has
more to do with attitude. I just think that they decided they're just going
to be a lot more cautious and restricting in terms of spending dollars."
Partly because of the economy, the league and union have already begun talks
on a new collective bargaining agreement, even though the current deal
doesn't expire until after the 2010-11 season. The sides met twice over the
summer, and though the players are unavailable while their seasons are going
on, Hunter said he and Stern will probably meet again within the next couple
of weeks.
"We both know that we don't want to repeat 1998," Hunter said. "We don't want
a lockout and I'm sure there's going to be some bumps in the road as we get
there, there may be a little acrimony along the way, but we know what we've
got to do."
Hunter also said there is approximately $1.5 billion less in committed
contracts now than in 2005-06, the first year of the deal. Maximum contract
lengths were shortened from seven to six years in the deal, and with those
offers hard to find this summer, Hunter thinks players should know it's no
longer business as usual.
"Whereas in the past some of the GMs or owners have contended that they can't
say no, that's not reflected in their actions," he said.
Hunter was in Brooklyn, where the players' association partnered with the
Madison Square Boys & Girls Club to distribute 500 turkeys. The union will
give out turkeys in every NBA city, totaling about 15,000 turkeys, during the
holiday season.
The Nets hope to move to Brooklyn, and Hunter said the local fans are excited
about having them. In the meantime, he hopes the team plays its games in
Newark.
New Jersey draws poorly at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, but did well
at the box office in two preseason games at the Prudential Center. The Nets
are considering playing their games there until their arena in Brooklyn is
ready, and Hunter believes they'd have a stronger fan base there.
"I think one of the problems associated with being in the Meadowlands is that
there's no real connection to any given community. It's just out there and
you're New Jersey's team or what have you and I don't think that works,"
Hunter said. "I think you've got to have a fan base, a community that relates
to you, that's engaged with you and prepared to support you."
Hunter was joined by the Nets' Keyon Dooling and Knicks forward Al
Harrington. The giveaways are expected to last through the middle of next
month, with the biggest one planned for Dec. 3 in Washington, where Wizards
and Toronto Raptors players will take part.
"It's an honor and a privilege, and I think everybody knows that economically
in our country it's very, very bad right now and so kind of to boost morale
in the community is a pleasure for us," Dooling said.
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1. 經濟不景氣，薪資上限可能下修，所以薪水可能會縮水？
所以球員公會要抗爭 （一堆大喀2010年到期，結果薪水沒有預期的多？）
拜託千萬別lockout阿~~~
2. 布魯克林籃網隊？
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