September 16, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors
It isn’t exactly the deal that we were hoping to read about, but I guess it’s still something…
The NBA and its referees approved a new five-year deal Thursday, just two years after a contract dispute nearly caused the league to open the season with replacements.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the referees voted on the deal last week. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because those details were confidential.
Owners ratified it at their meeting in Dallas on Thursday, and terms of the contract were not disclosed.
The agreement heads off the potential of two NBA lockouts. Players and owners still are working on a deal to replace the one that expired June 30.
Source: AP on ESPN.com.
