Stern Says League Is Moving Ahead To A Labor Agreement
NBA commissioner David Stern, acknowledging fans are weary of labor disputes, said Wednesday night the league and the union have made substantial progress in negotiations and extended the no-strike, no-lockout agreement for the short-term.
Stern, speaking before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, refused to elaborate on the around-the-clock talks in New York.
“Substantial progress means substantial progress,” he said.
An NBA Board of Governors meeting was set for Tuesday in New York.
“We are optimistic that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached soon,” he said, reading a joint statement from the league and the National Basketball Players Association. “However, there are complicated issues still to be resolved and further discussions are necessary before an agreement can be concluded.”
Stern said the Board of Governors meeting could set the stage for an agreement.
The Seattle SuperSonics exposed Sarunas Marciulionis to the June 24 expansion draft, gambling that neither the Vancouver Grizzlies nor the Toronto Raptors will select the relatively highly paid ($2.4 million dollar salary), injury-plagued, 31-year-old shooting guard. They also exposed promising 20-year-old forward Dontonio Wingfield, as well as forward Byron Houston, injury-riddled center Rich King and 37-year-old backup center Bill Cartwright, who plans to retire later this summer.
University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins is a top candidate for the Miami Heat head coaching job after meeting with Heat officials, according to the Miami Herald and the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Phoenix Suns signed 6-foot-9 Italian forward-center Stefano Rusconi to a multiyear contract.
The Portland Trail Blazers have abandoned efforts to trade star point guard Rod Strickland to the Washington Bullets, The Oregonian reported.
The Utah Jazz has signed free agent guard-forward Andy Toolson. Toolson, a Chicago native and former Brigham Young University standout, played for the Jazz during the 1990-91 season.