NEW YORK — NBA owners and players got done talking — but just for the night.
Both sides will be back bargaining at noon today, after meeting for nearly 12 hours Wednesday in an attempt to end the 132-day lockout.
Commissioner David Stern said the league has “stopped the clock” and will continue to negotiate.
“I would not read into this optimism or pessimism,” Stern said.
The commissioner had set a 5 p.m. EST deadline for players to accept the league’s latest proposal or have it replaced by a much harsher one that would drive the sides even farther apart.
Players said Tuesday they wouldn’t accept the current one as configured and suggested another negotiation session.
The offer calls for players to receive between 49 percent and 51 percent of basketball-related income, though union officials said it would be impossible to get above 50.2 percent. Players were guaranteed 57 percent of BRI under the previous collective bargaining agreement.
The next proposal would call for a 53-47 revenue split in the owners’ favor, essentially a hard salary cap and salary rollbacks, which the league originally sought but had taken off the table. Both proposals were sent to union executive director Billy Hunter on Sunday.
Failure to make a deal likely would increase the calls for the union to decertify so the players can file a lawsuit against the league in court, a risky and lengthy tactic that likely would doom the 2011-12 season. Union officials have downplayed the idea, but players might have no other leverage once the more severe proposal is put into play.
Besides the revenue split, the sides still are divided on elements of the salary-cap system. The Associated Press
