March 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Report: Wade Yelled At Stern While Making Pointed Remarks

Sep 30, 2011 8:30 PM

Dwyane Wade reportedly yelled at David Stern while making 'pointed remarks' during Friday's labor meeting, sources tell ESPN.

Sources say Stern pointed at Wade, which was taken as a sign of disrespect and that triggered the outburst.

Wade was quoted this week of saying that players like him would be worth upwards of $50 million if there were no salary restrictions.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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Stern Calls Report Of 82 Games Or No Games 'Ludicrous'

Sep 30, 2011 7:43 PM

David Stern blasted an ESPN report as "ludicrous" that the entire season would be in jeopardy if there was no progress on a deal this weekend.

Stern was asked if he can see the framework of a deal.

"We leave that to the bloggers," said Stern.

Alan Hahn/Newsday

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Labor Talks Will Resume At 10 AM Saturday

Sep 30, 2011 7:03 PM

Derek Fisher and the players exited a Friday meeting with the owners that lasted nearly five hours and immediately addressed the media.

"We did not come out with a deal today," said Fisher. "We will be back at 10 am tomorrow."

Fisher said no proposals were exchanged and there were no threats to cancel the season. He also indicated that he does not believe the sides are any closer to agreeing to a deal than they were on Wednesday and that talks were contentious at times.

"We can't continue to go down any path without making sure it's a fair way to go," said Fisher.

David Stern addressed the media shortly after the union concluded their remarks.

"Both sides expressed a willingness to make a deal," said Stern. "Once you start to lose games, positions on both sides start to harden." 

Stern also indicated that the union knows "precisely" what the revenue sharing system would look like. "They know as much as we know."

One source from inside the meeting told an associate that there was a 'sense of cooperation' during the day.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter)

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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'Spirit Of Cooperation' In Friday Labor Meeting

Sep 30, 2011 6:12 PM

The NBA and NBPA have been in an ongoing labor meeting on Friday that has lasted over four hours.

One participant in the talks texted an associate that there has "been a spirit of cooperation" in the room.

The consensus heading into Friday's larger-scale meeting was that it would go a long ways in determining whether the nature of negotiations.

Caron Butler and Theo Ratliff were the first two players to exit the meeting. Ratliff told reporters that there will be a meeting on Saturday.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Owners' Inability To Agree Internally To Revenue Share Slows Talks With Players

Sep 30, 2011 5:37 PM

The owners have been unable to agree on revenue sharing and, as much as anything, it is keeping them from bridging the gap with the players, according to sources.

Large-market owners have refused to share their local television revenues, which are substantial in comparison to smaller-market teams.

If the big-market owners don't agree to share more revenue, the small-market owners will keep pushing for a harsher deal from the players.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Miami's Arison Only Owner Beyond Labor Committee Present For Meeting

Sep 30, 2011 3:50 PM

Micky Arison of Heat is only owner present in Friday's meeting in addition to typical labor relations committee.

The labor relation committee is chaired by Peter Holt of the Spurs.

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Tags: Miami Heat, NBA, NBA CBA

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NBA To Propose 'Carmelo Rule' Limiting Extensions Using Bird Rights For Traded Players

Sep 30, 2011 1:01 PM

The owners will propose a new "Carmelo Rule" that would prevent teams from using a Larry Bird exception to sign or extend a player acquired by trade unless they are acquired before July 1 of the final season of the player's contract.

The Knicks were able to acquire Anthony near the February deadline and sign him to an extension.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA CBA

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LeBron, Wade, Carmelo, Durant, Other Stars To Be Present For Friday Meeting

Sep 30, 2011 12:58 PM

Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that Miami's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, New York's Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Boston's Paul Pierce are among the star players scheduled to attend in support of the union's executive committee, which includes New Orleans' Chris Paul.

David Stern said Wednesday the owners and players "are not near a deal," but there is a level of optimism around the league.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA CBA

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Wade Believes He Would See $50M Annually On True Open Market

Sep 30, 2011 11:51 AM

Dwyane Wade was asked this week what he believes he would receive annually if there was no maximum contract.

“I’m sure it would get to $50 million,” Wade said.

Jerry Buss has reportedly told people that Bryant is worth perhaps $70 million per year to the Lakers because of his talent and marketability. Many people i

“In terms of driving revenue, if the NBA had no cap, the compensation would be totally different,” Wade said. “Like baseball, where they have no cap, you see the players that they feel fill arenas, that people come out to see, A-Rod, those kind of guys, look at how much money they make on their deals.

“You’ve got guys – starting with Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal(notes), and Kobe and LeBron – all players that individually people wanted to come to see. And wanted to just have a glimpse, just one glimpse, to be able to say that I’ve seen that person play. For what they’ve done for the game, what they’ve done for organizations, I don’t think you can really put a dollar amount on it.”

A report from RealGM in May of 2010 that surveyed the opinions of multiple agents and basketball insiders indicated LeBron James could easily receive a deal over four or five years worth $50 million annually.

George Andrews, former agent to Magic Johnson, spoke with RealGM about the concept of leaving the NBA's superstars uncapped.

"I have always been an advocate that the top guys should not have a cap," Andrews said. "The league is a superstar league. The top handful of teams and top 10 or 11 players drive the economy of the league."

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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Owners, Players Ready For Most Important Meeting To Date In Labor Talks

Sep 29, 2011 7:56 PM

The NBA and NBPA will meet on Friday for what will be the most important set of talks during the lockout.

David Stern’s “going to make a real hard push to get a deal this weekend,” one team president told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday. “If the union makes a slight move, David will move.

“But the players have to blink first.”

Many people from the players' side already feel they have given up too much to the owners and that at this point Stern's job in getting a deal done is to convince hard-line owners to allow the players to feel as though they haven't given up everything.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Team Exec: Stern Needs To Give Hunter His Victory Speech

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Owners Seek 5-10 Percent Reduction Of Salary Over Next Three Seasons

Marc Stein/ESPN

Stern: Friday's Meeting Could Determine Whether 11-12 Season Happens

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Larger CBA Meeting Scheduled For Friday

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter)

Hunter Summons Players For Internal Friday Meeting

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Without Significant Progress This Week, Remainder Of Preseason To Be Canceled

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Owners Make Concession On Hard Cap

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Sides Exit Tuesday's Meeting With Hints Of Optimism

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Falk Believes NBA Will Incur 'Severe Damage' If Deal Doesn't Get Done Quickly

Washington Post

Bargaining Session Being Scheduled For Tuesday

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Team Executives Issue CBA Talking Points In Letter To Fans

RealGM Staff Report

NBA Formally Postpones Training Camp, Cancels Preseason Games Through Oct. 15

Press Release

Owners Revise Proposal, Negotiations Believed To Be Moving Slowly

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

NBA To Postpone Training Camp

Ric Bucher/ESPN

Owners, Players Refuse To Budge In Thursday's Meeting

Houston Chronicle

Source: Definition Of BRI Still Being Debated

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Agent: Union Hasn't Been Listening To Players

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Sources: New Amnesty Protection Won't Count Against Cap

Oregonian

Agents Regret Turning Down 'Good' European Offers

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo

Small Meeting Held On Wednesday, Top Negotiators To Convene On Thursday

Sacramento Bee