Lockout 99% Certain According to Billy Hunter

LeBrick James · Post #1 » by **LeBrick James** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:12 am

Citing the league's extreme and inflexible position, union head Billy Hunter said Monday that a lockout is very likely.

"I’d be 99 percent sure as of today that there will be a lockout," said Hunter. "I’ve said, 'Save your money, because in all probability there’s going to be a lockout.'"

Hunter said the gap between the league and players is wide and stated that the union will not move from its current position.

The next bargaining session has not been scheduled but the two sides have discussed meeting in December.

What does this mean exactly? No NBA season or a shortened regular season?

C_Money · Post #2 » by **C_Money** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:14 am

I still don't believe it. He's trying to make it seem like the players association doesn't give a damn if there a lockout.

Hypz · Post #3 » by **Hypz** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:22 am

Unions baby, unions!

Laowai · Post #4 » by **Laowai** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:26 am

thinks as much about have teams and have not teams
union is secondary

durka · Post #5 » by **durka** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:28 am

This guy better start working on that because I'm gonna guess he'll be out of a job if he loses the layers a years worth of cheques...

-InFeRnO- · Post #6 » by **-InFeRnO-** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:49 am

Hypz wrote: Unions baby, unions!

bravo

zilby · Post #7 » by **zilby** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:51 am

Gonna be a helluva dull year.

Death Knight · Post #8 » by **Death Knight** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:54 am

I don't doubt that there's going to be a lockout, but I'm certain they'll come up with something and be able to start next season on time. At least that's what I heard from the fan590 by a league official/executive or someone in the know.

Remember, the CBA expires on June? 2011, but the NBA season doesn't start until late October.

sanity · Post #9 » by **sanity** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:55 am

hello NCAA basketball!

KingstonRaptors · Post #10 » by **KingstonRaptors** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:57 am

This is going to look very badly for the players. Coming off greedy imo.

McFurious1 · Post #11 » by **McFurious1** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:10 am

is this good or bad for the raps?

KPJR · Post #12 » by **KPJR** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:15 am

what are gonna be the implications with the draft before and after?

how did the nhl do it theres? nba had theres but they still played a half-ass season

MEDIC · Post #13 » by **MEDIC** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:31 am

I guess we'll find out if the NBA are actually going to stand their extreme ground, or if they are bluffing & trying to meet somewhere in the middle.

Step 1: Lowball the players to the extreme.
Step 2: Hold your ground firmly.....don't budge.
Step 3: Be uncompromising. Make them feel like there is no negotiation. You are in control.
Step 4: Allow the season to draw near. Make it really tight.
Step 5: At the last minute, offer the players "something". Not a lot, but something.
Step 6: Hope to high hell that you've scared the players enough that they'll take it

That's the best tactic for the NBA to use. I've seen it work. When employee's go from getting told that they are getting a completely raw deal, to all of a sudden getting "something", a lot of times they go for it out of fear.

WhatsaTDot · Post #14 » by **WhatsaTDot** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:38 am

MEDIC wrote:I guess we'll find out if the NBA are actually going to stand their extreme ground, or if they are bluffing & trying to meet somewhere in the middle.

Step 1: Lowball the players to the extreme.
Step 2: Hold your ground firmly.....don't budge.
Step 3: Be uncompromising. Make them feel like there is no negotiation. You are in control.
Step 4: Allow the season to draw near. Make it really tight.
Step 5: At the last minute, offer the players "something". Not a lot, but something.
Step 6: Hope to high hell that you've scared the players enough that they'll take it

That's the best tactic for the NBA to use. I've seen it work. When employee's go from getting told that they are getting a completely raw deal, to all of a sudden getting "something", a lot of times they go for it out of fear.

These guys are millionaires, not machinists at the steel factory. They can be without work a bit longer than the average joe.

sortpar · Post #15 » by **sortpar** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:40 am

Whether the position is right or questionable related to the demands of the league, the union has to make a stand. I think the difference is when either side is short sighted based on the real economic scenario. In the past, there was always an anticipation that the good times would continue to roll, but that is not necessarily the case in the upcoming years.

Ponchos · Post #16 » by **Ponchos** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:40 am

KingstonRaptors wrote:This is going to look very badly for the players. Coming off greedy imo.

Greedier than billionaires?

The current system has been in place for well over a decade. No team has become insolvent. No team has contracted. Overall basketball revenue has grown, cable ratings are at an all time high and overall player salaries have dropped.

The owners are simply trying to get more money at the expense of the players. There is no financial dire straits. I think a long term lockout is unlikely.

LeBrick James · Post #17 » by **LeBrick James** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:48 am

I don't understand why the NBA is being so cheap.

-80,000 people at the All-Star game
-Game 7 finals series Lakers vs. Boston
-East and West finals were all exciting

I don't see how theres a loss. I think we've got some greedy people in the front office and players with grit that aren't about out sell themselves short.

Yeezus_ · Post #18 » by **Yeezus_** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:54 am

MEDIC wrote:I guess we'll find out if the NBA are actually going to stand their extreme ground, or if they are bluffing & trying to meet somewhere in the middle.

Step 1: Lowball the players to the extreme.
Step 2: Hold your ground firmly.....don't budge.
Step 3: Be uncompromising. Make them feel like there is no negotiation. You are in control.
Step 4: Allow the season to draw near. Make it really tight.
Step 5: At the last minute, offer the players "something". Not a lot, but something.
Step 6: Hope to high hell that you've scared the players enough that they'll take it

That's the best tactic for the NBA to use. I've seen it work. When employee's go from getting told that they are getting a completely raw deal, to all of a sudden getting "something", a lot of times they go for it out of fear.

Highly doubt this works

dacrusha · Post #19 » by **dacrusha** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:01 am

The owners are crying poverty, then the lowliest of their group claiming the most dire economic hardship, the Grizzlies, give Rudy Gay an $82 million contract.

**** them and their whining.

I hope the players get together, stand strong, and put these billionaire crybabies in their place.

sanity · Post #20 » by **sanity** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:04 am

How often is an impending lockout ever actually avoided? If the league is reporting annual losses there's absolutely no way to avoid it with a players union as stubborn as this one. The $ is the bottom line and with stupid contracts still being handed out by GMs employed by franchises who can't remain financially viable paying the cheques in the long-term, there is plenty of blame to go around.