The next step, as CBSSports.com reported Monday, would be for the executive committee to move forward with a business review — as has been customary after each of the past two labor agreements in 1999 and 2005. But sources said the review would not be handled by the firm selected by (Derek) Fisher, and union officials are hopeful that Fisher would opt to resign in what one person familiar with the situation described as a “graceful exit.”

Fellow committee members have mentioned (Chris) Paul as a possible replacement for Fisher, who has two years left on his term as president and vowed in a memo to the players and a public statement last week that he would not step aside.

“I’m honored,” Paul said Wednesday night, “but I don’t even think about that.”

As for what he’d like to see happen next in the battle for control of the NBPA, Paul said, “Not a clue. I just feel like it’s messy right now.”

via Ken Berger of CBS Sports