NBA, players union wrap up 2nd meeting

[September 24, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA and its players' association already agree on one thing: They are glad they started talking early.

The sides completed their second collective bargaining session Wednesday, a three-hour meeting near league headquarters. The players presented their financial information, after the owners offered details of theirs last month at the first sit-down.

"Today the NBPA and the NBA had another productive information sharing session," the league and union said in a joint statement. "These are preliminary meetings and clearly there will be more dialogue ahead, but we are glad to be talking at this very early stage."

The current agreement runs through the 2010-11 season, but the sides decided to open talks well in advance with many teams struggling because of the economic downturn.

No deal is expected anytime soon, but players' association president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said sitting down two years in advance was still worth it.

"One thing that's clear is that I don't think either side wants to necessarily casually wait for two years. I think both sides are interested in continuing the dialogue and converse openly," Fisher said. "Both sides feel good about the fact we're starting so early."

Fisher said there really hasn't been time for either side to review many details from the other, but felt groundwork had been done.

"I think these meetings have helped us get ahead of the curve and not wait for an inflammatory article or statement or response by somebody to kind of get everything kicked off," he said.

None of the owners stopped to talk. Commissioner David Stern would only say, "we're juggling a few balls. Have a wonderful day" as he hurriedly exited the hotel.

Fisher said the talks have been positive thus far, but they are expected to become difficult. Stern has already said the central issue will be the division of revenues, with the players currently collecting 57 percent.

Because the owners are expected to want that changed, as well as perhaps limiting the maximum length of contracts, there are fears that the differences could lead to another work stoppage. Many owners have been losing money -- with further losses in revenue expected this season -- while the players are more pleased with the deal that's been in place since 2005.

"We like the current system, compared to the possibility of changing and adjusting that system, but it's not a perfect system as far as we're concerned," Fisher said. "We feel that this system as it stands is not necessary to be adjusted just arbitrarily."

There is no further meeting scheduled, though Fisher said he hoped they could even talk again before the All-Star break in February.

Fisher said there was little discussion of the statement the union released Tuesday backing the locked out referees, but he repeated the players' stance that the regular officials need to be on the floor.

"One game determines a team's season in a lot of ways," Fisher said. "So to have any one game determined by less than what we've become accustomed to in terms of officiating, I just think is a tough thing to say."

[Associated Press; By BRIAN MAHONEY]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.