Players Await Response

NBA players waited to learn whether the league was willing to reopen talks on a labor deal that has been agreed to in principle.

Simon Gourdine, the union’s executive director, said he did not expect the two sides to meet before Wednesday’s college draft because of scheduling conflicts.

“I think if there is a reopening, it would be later in the week,” he said, “but there’s been no commitment (from the NBA) to do that.”

Team owners on Friday approved a new collective bargaining agreement negotiated by both sides, but players were unwilling to approve the deal, balking at a luxury tax on certain salaries.

NBA commissioner David Stern hasn’t said whether he would be willing to restructure the agreement.<