NEW YORK — Union officials said Wednesday that NBA players and owners are about $7 billion apart over a 10-year span in their most recent proposals, a significant gap to close to avoid a work stoppage.
So far apart in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement that union president Derek Fisher said when players are briefed on the state of the talks, they are in “total disbelief” and ask why they even bother having meetings.
“When we put our spreadsheets up, we put it on the board, we lay it out, everybody’s at a loss for how to even begin to close this gap,” the Lakers guard said.
They have only until June 30, when the current CBA expires, and they’ll take another crack at it during another session Friday.
But as they continue to disagree over issues relating to the salary cap as well as the enormous gap in economics, it becomes clear how difficult it will be to avoid a lockout.
“Their demand is gargantuan and we just can’t meet it,” executive director Billy Hunter said.
Rambis appears done.
Timberwolves general manager David Kahn has decided to fire coach Kurt Rambis, according to Yahoo Sports.
Kahn has begun collecting information on prospective replacements for Rambis, including University of Washington’s Lorenzo Romar.
Suns deny Nash rumors
PHOENIX — Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby emphatically said two- time league MVP Steve Nash isn’t going anywhere, and he added center Marcin Gortat to the untouchable list.
“We are not trading Marcin Gortat, period. End of sentence,” Babby said in a statement. “We are not trading Steve Nash, period, exclamation point.”
The denial came after ESPN reported the Suns were in talks with the Timberwolves over trading Nash for the No. 2 pick in tonight’s draft. Earlier, the New York Post mentioned a possible trade to the Knicks for Chauncey Billups.
Footnotes.
Lakers forward Matt Barnes exercised his option to extend his contract for the 2011-12 season.
• Heat center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is exercising his $1.4 million option with Miami for next season.
The Associated Press
