Deadline nearing for NBA owners, players

Associated Press

NEW YORK

They don’t have a deal yet, and they are just about out of time.

After some two years of on-and-off negotiations, that’s about all NBA players and owners agree on. The gaps in their financial proposals have been so great that they sometimes decide it’s best to just talk about something else.

Now they have to figure it out quickly. Without at least getting very close to the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement this weekend, hopes of the 2011-12 season starting on time would be all but lost.

“We realize that the calendar, the clock, the watch, whatever you want to say, is running out in terms of starting our regular season on time. So we’re going to try to get some things done this weekend and see what we can do,” said the Lakers’ Derek Fisher, president of the players’ association.

The owners’ labor relations committee and the union’s executive committee — perhaps joined by some All-Stars — will meet today and have committed to keep talking throughout the weekend. Both sides have cautioned that bringing back the large groups after as series of discussions among smaller parties doesn’t mean they are close, but rather that more voices are required to consider the crucial decisions.

Talks broke down last time the large groups were together on Sept. 13, but commissioner David Stern said he and union executive director Billy Hunter believe it’s necessary to summon them again with the Nov. 1 opener at stake.

“If we’re at a period of enormous opportunity and great risk, the larger the group that is assembled to focus on that, the better from my perspective,” Stern said. “And I think Billy and I are on the same page on this.”

They aren’t, though, on major salary and system issues.

Owners are seeking a more restrictive salary cap system, while the players favor the current one that allows teams to exceed it through use of certain exceptions. Players fear a harder cap system would eliminate fully guaranteed contracts for all but the top players.