The NBA Players Union will most likely meet with the league owners some time next week, but the NBPA is not ready to sign any offers coming its way. Both parties are still far apart and the latest updates show signs of an extremely long lockout. NBPA VP Maurice Evans accused David Stern of lying and LaMarcus Aldridge said the players will sit out until the owners present a respectable proposal.
Evans had this to say to Sports Illustrated, “The deal we’ve been offered would so drastically alter the game as we know it today. The offers have been so pathetic that it’s hard to even talk about it when we’re informing the guys.”
Evans said the owners’ proposal will not be accepted, even if it results in a loss of the entire 2011-2012 NBA season. In his eyes, the deal is something that will put the players in a difficult situation.
“Again, when you realize all the components that they’re [the owners] trying to take away, and trying to take out of the [collective bargaining agreement] that’s already in effect — the guaranteed contracts, grandfathering in [contracts], the [salary-cap] exceptions, Larry Bird [rights].”
It is quite clear that the NBA Players Union and the team owners will have to sacrifice a lot in order to get the NBA rolling again.
Read the entire interview with Maurice Evans here: Sports Illustrated
