No progress made in NBA labor talks

After Tuesday's's collective-bargaining talks between the NBA and the players union, NBPA executive director Billy Hunter said he was "pessimistic and discouraged" about the chances to start the season on time. Commissioner David Stern admitted: "We did not have a great day. I think it's fair to say that."

The sides spent five hours in a conference room at a Manhattan hotel discussing concepts based on what was perceived to be progress made in small group sessions over the last two weeks. With the larger group present, which consisted of 11 owners, the sides did seem to have a breakthrough on the economic side, but remained at odds on the salary-cap system that would serve as the foundation of a new deal.

The league is insisting on a hard cap system, with either the NFL or NHL systems as models. The union is steadfastly against a hard cap and instead has attempted to address the problems with the current soft cap / luxury tax system. Hunter called the hard cap "a blood issue," and the union's opposition is because it can lead to short contracts and a lack of overall security for players. Stern, however, said it is the best way to create more of a balance around the league between teams in large and small markets.

"We need a system that is economically feasible," Stern said, "and one that allows all of our teams to not only make a profit if they're well operated, but also to compete."

The union, Hunter said, was "prepared to make a significant move" in its offer to further reduce the players' share of league revenue. The players drew 57 percent of Basketball Related Income (BRI) in the previous deal and recently made an offer to lower it to 54 percent. But Hunter said to go even lower would only be agreeable with the condition that the cap system remain the same.

"They were receptive to the economics," Hunter said, "but not the system."

The sides have not scheduled another bargaining session, though both indicated an interest in continuing to negotiate. "We're still committed to the process," union president Derek Fisher said. "We're not walking away from the table."

Although some influential agents have been pushing the agenda in the background, Hunter said decertification is still not something the NBPA is considering.

The union is holding a meeting Thursday in Las Vegas to update the players on the proceedings. Hunter said he already has told the players to prepare for the season to not start on time Nov. 1 and potentially miss half of a season.

Some players, such as former Knick Wilson Chandler and free-agent guard J.R. Smith, have signed contracts to play in China this season with no out clause to return to the NBA when the lockout ends. More could follow soon,

"There's no question in my mind the players are unified," Hunter said. "If this is the deal, if this is the best they can do, then the players are willing to sit out."

The NBA Board of Governors are scheduled to meet tomorrow in Dallas. When asked if after the meeting the league will announce that training camps -- which are scheduled to open around Oct. 3 -- will be postponed, Stern replied, "No, we won't."