L ast night David Aldridge and the NBA TV Game Time crew interviewed David Stern. For those of you who missed the broadcast, you’ll be happy to know that NBA TV was kind enough to send us over the transcript from Stern’s appearance. With today being the drop dead date for Stern’s ultimatum, try to read into the Commissioner’s responses and figure out if he is going to follow through on his promise to write off the season early…
Aldridge: “What is your reaction to Derek Fisher’s comment that “the current deal is not one we can accept” and he also went on to say “it’s a bad deal?”
Stern: “Well, I take him at his word that they’re not accepting it. Whether it’s a bad deal or not, all I can tell you is that we sat in a room until three in the morning, or what seemed like three in the morning – there was a time change Saturday night, so I am not sure what time it really was – and the President’s federal mediator suggested six ideas for accommodating the six issues that separated us. And we adopted five of them as our own and the union – through it’s lawyer Jeffrey Kessler – rejected them all , and I assume I hear Derek rejecting them all, although I am not exactly sure. So as of the close of business tomorrow there will be a new offer from the NBA Labor Relations Committee.”
Aldridge: “David, I have to ask you, Billy Hunter had said he would like to reach out to you tonight or tomorrow in an attempt to restart negotiations. Are you interested in having further negotiations with the union before five o’clock Wednesday?”
Stern: “I always take Billy’s calls as a sign of respect and courtesy. What my response will be will be guided to some degree by the Labor Relations Committee.”
Aldridge: “Billy said the union has authorized (and the player reps and executive board have also authorized) him to negotiate further on economics. I assume that means BRI because that is what we have been talking about, if they can get some movement on the system issues. Is there any wiggle room left from the league with regards to system issues that we have been talking about from the repeater tax to the no sign and trades for teams that go over the luxury tax? Is there any wiggle room left?”
Stern: “As of Saturday or Sunday morning at 3 a.m. there was none left.”
D. Scott: “Well David, you and I lived through the lockout in ’99. You made the comment that “there would be a deal done soon.” Where is your confidence level today on that?”
Stern: “That’s a good question. I think that I will take Billy’s call, I will check in with the Labor Relations Committee to see if there’s a deal by close of business tomorrow. I am losing my confidence, but we will always be willing to negotiate except our starting point is going to be a new proposal.”
R. Kamla: “And David speaking of that new proposal, which kicks in at 5:01 p.m. ET on Wednesday, is there an expiration date on the reset proposal? Have you thought about that?”
Stern: “No. Because all the Labor Relations Committee was saying was that our proposal on the table now goes away tomorrow and our next proposal, the one we will forward to the players, is the one we will be negotiating from. And we will see how those negotiations go.”
Aldridge: “What is the time frame for canceling further games? Billy Hunter said during the press conference today that it was underground information that the league was considering canceling games through Christmas?”
Stern: “I don’t know what ground he is talking about and under what ground he is looking. We have made no such plans and have had no such discussions. We need 30 days to start the season from the time we make the agreement.”
