Breaking news: Hunter says there will be disclaimer of interest

[heitingas]

Will post links....

[nickagneta]

Not decertification but a disclaimer. Union is dissolved.

[PosImpos]

Not decertification but a disclaimer. Union is dissolved.

from what i read earlier today the union no longer represents the players in this matter, but isn't dissolved as an entity, meaning the lawsuit filed by the owners this summer against the NBPA is still relevant (whereas in the event of a decertification it wouldn't have been).

in any case, the time that the players would have spent on the basketball court will instead be spent in federal court.

[nickagneta]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7234180/nba-lockout-players-not-accept-deal-seek-decertify-billy-hunter-says

NEW YORK -- NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter says the union will not accept the owners' proposed collective bargaining agreement and will seek to disband the union and act as a trade association.

The union, whose members have been locked out since July 1st, also plans to pursue an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA.

"As of this moment, we're going to be in the process of converting the NBA Players Association into a trade associaton," Hunter said.

Hunter said the union has negotiated in good faith over two years and feels that they have given enough, while the NBA was "not willing and prepared to negotiate."

"The players feel that they are not prepared to accept any ultimatums," Hunter said.

"Going forward, collective bargaining will not be how this process continues for us," added union president Derek Fisher. "We'll let our legal team really lead the charge."

[mkogav]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7234180/nba-lockout-players-not-accept-deal-seek-decertify-billy-hunter-says

NEW YORK -- NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter says the union will not accept the owners' proposed collective bargaining agreement and will seek to disband the union and act as a trade association.

The union, whose members have been locked out since July 1st, also plans to pursue an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA.

"As of this moment, we're going to be in the process of converting the NBA Players Association into a trade associaton," Hunter said.

Hunter said the union has negotiated in good faith over two years and feels that they have given enough, while the NBA was "not willing and prepared to negotiate."

"The players feel that they are not prepared to accept any ultimatums," Hunter said.

"Going forward, collective bargaining will not be how this process continues for us," added union president Derek Fisher. "We'll let our legal team really lead the charge."

I hope the players sue Billy Hunter after they are forced to accept a 42.5% BRI cut and a hard cap.

Mk

[Evantime34]

Not sure why they wouldn't make a motion to decertify which would take 45 days to happen at which point they could negotiate (or if they didn't want to they could hope the owners made a better offer).

Also not sure why the NBAPA thinks they can win an antitrust, lawsuit when the NFL, who look to be more in violation of antitrust (due to the hard cap) were not succesful.

[cman88]

at this point its just stubbornness from the players...and I have no doubt its being orchestrated by the top 1% players and the agents...heck theres a quote from Jeff Green stating he hasnt looked at the proposal and is going to leave it to his agent..thats an idea how this is going.

the players are going to LOSE this and they are going to lose hard...they are going to lose their paychecks for a season and probably going to have to take a worse deal than this one...remember how well decertifying the union worked out for the NFL? the players lost that....and the players union lost to the owners in the NHL lockout....right now they are just being stubborn.

word has it ALOT of small market owners lead by Michael Jordan were hoping the Union would reject this offer and decertify.

the union really has no leverage...if they think the owners are going to back off and give them what they want, they are living in a fake reality and are going to find out the hard way.

this is the best offer the union was going to get....and they didnt even let the rank and file players at least vote on it

oh well, goodbye season

[Chris]

Not sure why they wouldn't make a motion to decertify which would take 45 days to happen at which point they could negotiate (or if they didn't want to they could hope the owners made a better offer).

Also not sure why the NBAPA thinks they can win an antitrust, lawsuit when the NFL, who look to be more in violation of antitrust (due to the hard cap) were not succesful.

From what I understand, they still can negotiate (the NFL agreed to a deal when the NFLPA had become a trade association).

It appears they did this, to try to stop the games, because if they waited to decertify, I don't think they felt the owners were going to believe they would actually do it.  This way, they can actually use the threat of a lawsuit, in order to try to get the league to settle.

[PosImpos]

So what happens with the contracts now?  I know that under decertification the contracts from the last CBA could have been nullified because the contracts were only considered valid with union representation.

Is it possible we'd be looking at an NBA, when all of this is finally worked out, without any clear existing contracts?

[slamtheking]

So what happens with the contracts now?  I know that under decertification the contracts from the last CBA could have been nullified because the contracts were only considered valid with union representation.

Is it possible we'd be looking at an NBA, when all of this is finally worked out, without any clear existing contracts?

I doubt it.  once the smoke clears I have have every expectation that the owners will make current contracts valid in the next CBA (with the possible exception of players cut lose for amnesty).

since this is the nuclear option and most likely the death of this year's season, I hope what comes out of this is an agreement that plays to the C's favor.  The team will have only a few players on the books and hopefully plenty of available cash for picking up the FA's from this year and next.   

[The Walker Wiggle]

David Stern, "We anticipated this. We started a federal action against the union because they were bargaining in bad faith."

David Stern, "By this irresponsible action at this late date, Billy Hunter has decided to put the season in jeopardy and deprive his players of an enormous pay day."

[Q_FBE]

So how does my tier system proposal look now?

[Chris]

So how does my tier system proposal look now?

How so?  I don't think either side would be in favor of it, so I am not sure it solves anything.

[PosImpos]

So what happens with the contracts now?  I know that under decertification the contracts from the last CBA could have been nullified because the contracts were only considered valid with union representation.

Is it possible we'd be looking at an NBA, when all of this is finally worked out, without any clear existing contracts?

I doubt it.  once the smoke clears I have have every expectation that the owners will make current contracts valid in the next CBA (with the possible exception of players cut lose for amnesty).

since this is the nuclear option and most likely the death of this year's season, I hope what comes out of this is an agreement that plays to the C's favor.  The team will have only a few players on the books and hopefully plenty of available cash for picking up the FA's from this year and next.   

I think you're right, but it will be interesting to follow the legal argument over whether these contracts are valid after the union which negotiated the CBA under which the contracts are structured is no longer representing the players.

[LarBrd33]

Well... I'll be the stupid kid in the class room who holds up his hand and asks very late and dumb question... there's got to be like 3 or 4 other kids who are thinking to themselves "thank god he asked the question... I felt like an idiot asking it"...

What exactly does decertification mean?  I don't get it.  I need an idiots guide to decertification... what the players hope to achieve by doing it and how it is beneficial... and what the fallout will be.  I haven't found any articles that break it down.  If there is no "union", who do the owners present their proposal to?... Does every active NBA player just vote?  And how is that really any different? 

Thanks in advance.