After eight more hours of negotiations from Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning, players and owners adjourned at 1:30 a.m. without a deal on a new CBA. What it did produce was a Wednesday deadline for the union to accept a owners' proposal based on suggestions by federal mediator George Cohen.
David Stern said the union's lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler, had rejected the proposal by the owners on six key issues including the BRI split, the MLE, luxury tax, etc. Stern said he is not optimistic --but still hopeful-- the union would change its mind by the close of business Wednesday. At that point, the owners would revert to a 52-47 BRI split in favor of the owners, among other things, as a starting point.
"Right now, we’ve been given the ultimatum," Derek Fisher, said in response. "And our answer is: that’s not acceptable to us." Union officials said they would not put the owners' proposal to a vote.
The players, led by its biggest stars, may now consider decertifying the union, which at this point would be the death knell for the season. Deron Williams tweeted from Turkey, "I’ve been ready to sign a decertification petition since July? Can’t believe we are just now going this route! SMH."
- N.B.A. Owners Give Players 4 Days to Accept Final Offer - Howard Beck - New York Times
- NBA owners, players end talks, deal on table until Wednesday - Brian Mahoney - AP
- NBA owners give players drop-dead offer - Adrian Wojnarowski - Yahoo! Sports
- Morning-after lockout roundup: NBA union is very, very angry - Chris Sheridan - Sheridan Hoops
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NBA sides move closer on revenue split; stay apart on system issues - Chris Sheridan - Sheridan Hoops
- Union: Players won't see this offer - Henry Abbott - ESPN
- What decertification vote would mean - Marc Stein - ESPN
- Talks blow up with ultimatum, Wednesday deadline - Ken Berger - CBS Sports
- David Stern sets ultimatum for players: accept deal by Wednesday or offer gets worse - Matt Moore - NBC Sports
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NBA players set to reject Wednesday ultimatum - Marc Berman - New York Post
- NBA Lockout: Decertification Push Revived By David Stern's Ultimatum Tom Ziller - SB Nation
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In NBA Lockout, David Stern Negotiates Like Godzilla: Torch First, Ask Questions Later - Tom Ziller - SB Nation
- Stern issues ultimatum as lockout continues - Zach Lowe - Sports Illustrated
- NBA offers players deal with Wednesday deadline - Alan Hahn - New York Newsday
- Can anything be learned from '99 lockout? - Alan Hahn - New York Newsday
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With players about to lose pay, this could be a key checkpoint - Gary Washburn - Boston Globe
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NBA Press Conference (Video) - NBA.com