One Last Meeting Before Possible NBA Lockout

Though David Stern maintains some optimism that a deal can somehow be reached (despite all signs to the contrary), Thursday’s meeting in New York will likely determine whether or not NBA team owners will lockout the players. From NBA.com: “With the clock ticking down, NBA owners and their representatives are still hoping for a last-second miracle, but are preparing for a worst-case outcome that could produce the league’s first labor lockout in 13 years. The two sides have agreed to meet one last time Thursday in New York before the Thursday midnight deadline when the collective bargaining agreement expires. While there was no ‘lockout vote’ per se taken at Tuesday’s Board of Governors meeting at the Hilton Anatole, NBA commissioner David Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver would not rule out the possibility of a shutdown. ‘The owners authorized the labor-relations committee to do whatever steps were necessary to effectuate a new collective bargaining agreement,’ said Silver. ‘And so that committee has the full authority of all 30 teams to act in whatever way they deem appropriate.’ Silver said that during the meeting that lasted nearly four hours, the board heard a presentation from the labor relations committee, led by San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt and a presentation from the revenue sharing committee, led by Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck. The National Basketball Players Association has been urging the owners to implement revenue sharing as a way to offset what the league says is $300 million in losses among the 30 NBA teams.”