The way the NBA labour discussions are going, both sides must be saying it’s called ‘Show business, not show friends’; that’s why money talk rules right now in discussions. As commissioner David Stern and some owners sit across the table eyeing some of the star players that fill the league’s coffers, the tone of the talks is warming slightly but there is still a prevailing chill in the room.
How else would you explain the reported words exchanged between Dwyane Wade and David Stern? With a tone that surprised some of the owners.
For those of you that say, “The NFL got its act together so what is taking so long in the NBA?” The difference was the NFL was trying to figure our how to divide profit while NBA owners are trying to minimize losses and save themselves from some of their own ludicrous spending. What makes that bad for the players is the owners are trying to save money at the players’ expense with a system that will mandate them to limit spending. What in the name of Ted Stepien is going on here?
In a nutshell, if you haven’t been scoring at home this dispute is about three things: 1) The splitting of BRI (Basketball Related Income); 2) A system that both sides accept as a fair way to divide the aforementioned income; and 3) Revenue sharing amongst the owners in the wake of reports that the majority of NBA teams are losing money while big market clubs are rolling in cash.
With David Stern’s pronouncement that the revenue sharing amongst the owners has basically been decided upon, that leaves two issues on the table. Mind you, they are two major issues, but there is a sense that one of them — the BRI — has been quietly settled behind the scenes. So why haven’t we heard that it will be close to a 50-50 split? Well, because the system of exactly how it will be split has yet to be determined and, at present, is probably the most contentious issue.
The tone of labour discussions in all pro sports has changed drastically from the days when players fought for a piece of the pie that included pensions, job security and the right to move from team depending on the highest bidder. Current NBA players have all of that and they are trying to hold on to as much of it as they can.
Recently, on Sportsnet Radio FAN 590, Michael Grange and I had the chance to speak with former head of the NBPA, Charles Grantham. This is a guy that sat across the table from Stern in negotiating sessions. Just listen for yourself as you can discern from the tone of the interview, he truly understands the issues at a different level with a much different perspective than the average layman.
The players are eventually going to have to give in to the owners’ demands. The key is finding “triggers” so when unanticipated revenues start rolling in, their deal will give them a proportionate piece of a now bigger pie. But yes, in some areas they will simply have to have to acquiesce. Just ask the NHL players, who lost an entire season, or the NFL players who had to hammer out a deal just in time to save their season. Ah, but in both instances, the triggers are in place. Witness the deals by the Florida Panthers to get the salary “floor” and the NFL players’ clause that forces its owners to spend as well. A side note, NHL folks beware: Even though the owners forced their deal through last time, the paradox could appear when their negotiations open up again and they will cry that the CBA needs to change. Crazy because I guess that means they are calling their deal, the one they forced the players to take by missing an entire season, a bad one next time around. Just wait!
But back to the NBA, is there still time to have the season start on time? Yes, but if nothing concrete materializes in a few days, real games and not exhibition games will start falling by the wayside. That could mean real trouble for the peripheral fans that the NBA has drawn into the fold since the last lockout in 1998-99. The two sides don’t have to be friends, but they do have to get down to business, quickly.