Effort Seems There In NBA Talks, But Is Time?
NEW YORK (AP) NBA owners and players are scheduled to meet again Tuesday, a session that Commissioner David Stern indicated would be critical in gauging whether a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached before the current deal expires June 30.
After Friday's session, both parties left believing the commitment to getting a deal done is there, yet unsure if there's enough time to avoid a lockout.
Although contract guarantees are no longer a hang-up, major disagreements remain.
Players argue that the current system doesn't need an overhaul. Owners disagree and seek a hard salary cap system and a reduction of contract lengths, all part of their desire to slash player costs by about one-third, about $750 million of the approximately $2.1 billion spent on player salaries and benefits last season.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
