IC Cold Links: Fever Done After Dropping Game 3 To Dream; NBA Owners And Players Appear To Really Be Negotiating

by Tom Lewis on Sep 28, 2011 7:00 AM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

MVP Tamika Catchings tried to give it a go last night at Conseco FIeldhouse, but in the end neither she nor her Indiana Fever teammates had enough in the tank to challenge the Atlanta Dream, dropping the ECF-deciding Game 3, 83-67. Another tough end to the season for the Fever with Tamika's ill-timed injury leaving "what if?" as the only consolation.

Hard to believe we have to look to the NBA labor negotiations for some good news, but that's what we seemed to have yesterday afternoon when those meeting on behalf of the owners and players parted ways after just two hours of discussions giving off the indication that they were taking an altered offer back to their constituencies.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the owners softened their stance a bit on the hard salary cap and in turn expect to diminish the size of the Larry Bird exception and mid-level exception while jacking up the luxury tax penalties for teams exceeding the cap. So the Lakers and Knicks can exhale but at least they'll be dumping more money in the pot to help other teams utilize the exceptions.

With the chance to still salvage the start of the regular season, both sides plan to meet today. Hopefully that positive momentum continues without one of the sides blowing it to smithereens.

Plenty more on this in the links along with a Tyler Hansbrough sighting as he talks Tar Heels.

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Comments

Bummer about the Fever

I’m not much of a follower but I agree with Herb Simon that having them here offers a great example for young female athletes. The miniscule cost of the WNBA being financed by the NBA is well worth that example, at least for me.

Not surprised about the hard cap, am surprised that the owners are ceding on pretty much all of their sticking points so far a bit. The NBAPA continues to be an astounding example of a successful union. Not saying that’s good or bad, just that they succeed basically every time in getting what they want. I do like the chance of stricter luxury tax penalties, it’s something I offered as a compromise awhile back. Have to see what the changes are. Hopefully they get rid of the luxury tax threshold, what was it last year, cap of 58 and lux tax at 72? Why the gap? Spend over the cap, you pay the luxury tax, period. Build in tiers I suppose. Still seems pretty clear to me the biggest issue is defining “basketball related income,” not just the percentage split of it. That’s the backdoor way to bringing down salaries, of course the players know that though.

Far as Donnie Walsh coming back; yeah, no thanks. There’re certainly worse ways to go…but one of them would be Walsh coming in for a year or two and grooming Reggie to take over, which has been bandied about. I’m completely against that, I’m completely against any former player taking the reigns once Bird’s gone really.

With the 16th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft the Indiana Pacers select Thomas Robinson, Kansas

by IndyPacers on Sep 28, 2011 8:22 AM EDT reply actions

I have to disagree with Danny Granger.

M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” has got to be the worse movie of the decade, it was awful from head to toe. I can’t imagine any movie, let alone “Drive”, being worse.

I suppose a deal will be able to get done now… yay. =/ Well, here’s to hoping the way the split up the money better, so all the teams can be profitable, not just the large markets.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Sep 28, 2011 8:24 AM EDT reply actions

I've heard that about The Last Airbender movie.

Too bad since the cartoon was fantastic. Might have to queue up the Netflix again with that series…

by jantz101 on Sep 29, 2011 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

The cartoon was great. I suppose I should say I despise Shyamalan, he has firmly placed himself next to Uwe Boll as the worst directors.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Sep 30, 2011 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions

at least this deal will end the lockout

on the surface, it doesn’t appear there will be major changes to the current system if there’s no hard cap and there’s no revenue sharing system. The biggest change is probably going to be the amnesty clause which only give big market teams more advantage over teams like Indy, Milwaukee, Charlotte. I can see the players union and the owners having another get together 5 years or 10 years down the road but right now that seems decades from now, we need our basketball fix now!!!!

by latrell spreewel on Sep 28, 2011 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

I’ve heard some changes like getting rid of or greatly reducing the mid level exception and changing Bird rights. There is supposed to be some kind of revenue sharing system put in place too but I haven’t heard much about how that works. Sheridanhoops is reporting that there will be stiffer penalties for going over the cap like a 4 to 1 luxury tax at a certain threshold. Funny that the owners solution to not being able to control spending is to make it cost more to spend that money. Doesn’t really make any sense. Amnesty does seem to be the biggest change which really screws the Pacers. Maybe it will work out and the Pacers will get someone who was dropped for great value, but I’m going to be pissed if we miss out on someone like Nene to a team that has no business being in free agency that got a get out of jail free card. Seems like actual progress is being made though, hopefully good news comes out of the meeting today. We should have an idea after today whether there is any chance the season starts on time.

by donnyfher on Sep 28, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

A legitimate revenue sharing proposal will drag this lockout much much longer, that's why there probably won't be one

by latrell spreewel on Sep 28, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not sure why revenue sharing is even part of the negotiations, seems like that is an issue between owners not players. Doesn’t look like much came out of the talks today. Hopefully we get some good news this weekend. Everyone keeps saying that nothing will get done until there is a real risk of losing the season, I think we are there.

by donnyfher on Sep 28, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions