Hunter: We’ll ‘Vote on the NBA’s proposal’
There were indications Saturday night that the committee was in favor of taking the disclaiming interest route, a process by which executive director Billy Hunter would submit a letter to (David) Stern saying the NBPA was no longer the bargaining unit for the players. Antitrust lawsuits potentially worth treble damages on existing player salaries could be filed soon thereafter, with players sending the immediate message that they would be willing to lose the season. Negotiations would continue with the pressure shifting to the NBA, but not before the structure of the union and role of lead negotiator would first have to be determined.
When reached on Saturday night, however, Hunter told SI.com that his intention was to have the player representatives vote on a revised version of the NBA’s latest proposal before moving forward.
“We will vote on the NBA’s proposal,” Hunter wrote in a text message. “The proposal will be presented with some proposed amendments.”
Despite Stern’s threat that this was a take-it-or-leave-it situation, players could simply ignore the parameters he has set forth and give the league a deal that they claim could be done. But numerous agents who spoke with SI.com were frustrated by the lack of information coming from the union at such a crucial time, as they were attempting to educate their clients but often doing so with either incomplete or inaccurate information. There were no widespread updates on the proposal, the union’s strategy or its stance beyond private conversations between members of its executive committee and player reps with their innumerable colleagues.
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