Why a 50 / 50 Split? and another thought...

[greenpride32]

Seems like the owners have been a lot more movable from their originals stances than the players. They have gone from a 57-43 split in their favor to a possible 49-51 split in the players favor and they moved from a once $3 million MLE to now a $5 million MLE.

Uh you could also say the players have moved.  They initially didn't want a cut from 57.  Then it was reported they would go to 53-54.  The deal is going to be in the middle ground; it requires BOTH sides to move.

[Moranis]

From today's ESPN report:

Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the owners are once again offering a 49-51 range of the basketball-related income to the players. That is essentially where the players would get a minimum of 49 percent of BRI or a max of 51 percent depending on how much revenue the league takes in that year.

...

Also, while the sides haven't agreed to anything, the owners have been open to accepting a $5 million midlevel exception, sources told Broussard. That's down from $5.8 million under the old agreement but up from the $3.4 million the owners had been offering.

...

Grousbeck chairs the planning committee, which is charged with developing a new revenue sharing system for basketball. More robust revenue sharing is a key aspect of the economic reforms the NBA intends to implement this offseason.

Stern has said owners will have an expanded revenue sharing package among teams once the collective bargaining agreement with the players has been completed.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7123567/nba-lockout-second-day-mediation-ends-sides-return-thursday

Seems like the owners have been a lot more movable from their originals stances than the players. They have gone from a 57-43 split in their favor to a possible 49-51 split in the players favor and they moved from a once $3 million MLE to now a $5 million MLE. Then went from strict hard cap to a penalizing luxury tax(face it, if owners of big market teams can go over the cap, they will, penalty be [dang]ed).

To me this is proof of some of the claims I have been saying have not been credible coming from the owners. They say the system is broke and the system is losing more than $300 million a year yet if they accept a 6% giveback by the players they are accepting only $240 million back from them. Which means their original numbers had to be bull.

Not to mention that the Philadelphia 76ers were just sold in the middle of a lockout which could mean the purchasers would be losing huge money their first year, yet, they bought the team anyway. Kind of illogical given the fact they bought a team that ranks about 25th in attendance year in and year out.

For those crying for the owner of the distressed Philadelphia 76ers know that he bought the team from Harold Katz in 1996 for $130 million and 15 years later is selling 90% interest in the team for $280 million.

The owners initial position was totally ridiculous.  No real negotiations could even begin until the owners came back to reality. 

[j804]

So what would you guys say/feel is the chance our season is saved up until this point? 50-50 chance? 75 percent chance its saved?

[Chris]

So what would you guys say/feel is the chance our season is saved up until this point? 50-50 chance? 75 percent chance its saved?

I am feeling more confident now.  It sounds like they are picking away at issues, and making significant progress.  However, I still think the hard cap issue could be a major deal-breaker, and I am not confident either side is willing to give in on it anytime soon.