Lockout? What lockout?
Strike? Who, us?
And so much for NBA labor strife.
NBA Commissioner David Stern Wednesday said before Game 4 of the finals here that the league and the players’ association had made “substantial progress” on a new collective-bargaining agreement. Stern said he is optimistic about reaching a new deal before the June 24 expansion draft and the June 28 collegiate draft.
In the meantime, Stern said the league and the players have agreed to continue the “no lockout/no strike” agreement in effect since last October, and would negotiate around the clock until a new agreement is reached.
That seemed to put to rest any speculation that the league was headed toward a lockout or work stoppage.
“I am pleased to report substantial progress has been made and I am optimistic a new collective-bargaining agreemnet will be reached soon,” Stern said. “Both sides agreed as long as we are moving in the right direction, the existing no lockout/no strike agreement will be continued on a short-term basis.”
Stern also said the league will hold a meeting next Tuesday of the Board of Governors–the owners’ committee–to discuss progress and possibly get a vote to go ahead with an agreement.
“I would think the negotiating committee would come out of that meeting understanding exactly what we could and could not do to close ou a deal,” said Stern. “We wouldn’t have the meeting unless we throught there was a deal to close out.”
Stern also asked whether he was optimistic whether a deal could be reached before the two major upcoming draft events.
After some pause and a slight smile, Stern said: “Yes.”
The result of the nearing of a deal means trades will be allowed during the expansion and collegiate drafts if no new deal is reached by then, although the moratorium prevents restructing of contracts. But both sides appear intent on having a new deal by then.
The expediency, as expected, came about with the expiration of the current no-strike/no-lockout agreement and moratorium, which was due to end after the last playoff game–which happened to be Wednesday after the Rockets swept the Magic.
As a result, the NBA believed it had to take action or players could have re-signed with teams without any rules for contracts.
“Our goal,” said Stern, “is to continue on an uninterrupted basis. We learned the same thing baseball learned, that it is in our best interests if we can possibly keep the season going uninterrupted.”
