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NBA labor talks stall in New York
NBA labor talks stalled Wednesday after a 2 1/2-hour meeting in New York, less than a month before a lockout would begin. "All I can say is that we had a meeting, and we don't have anything else scheduled," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. Players association director Billy Hunter said he outlined a new proposal, then offered to extend the terms of the current seven-year agreement that expires June 30. The league turned both offers down. "It's definitely fair to say the talks have stalled," Hunter said. "They are seeking more concessions off the current deal, and we contend we made major concessions in the last collective bargaining agreement." Hunter attended the meeting with union president Michael Curry, secretary-treasurer Pat Garrity and five members of the union's staff. The owners were represented by Granik, commissioner David Stern and four staff members from the league office staff, Hunter said. Among the issue the sides have failed to reach agreement on are the maximum length of long-term contracts, the size of the annual raises available in those contracts and a possible increase in the minimum age. "We've tried our best to reach out to them and address their concerns," Garrity said. Stern has said the owners have offered to guarantee that the players receive a 57 percent share of revenues, would raise the salary cap three percentage points — from 48 to 51 percent of revenues — and minimize the level at which the luxury tax clicks in, making more money available for salaries. A lockout would likely begin July 1 if the sides fail to reach an agreement. The league imposed a lockout in July 1998, after the previous deal expired, and the work stoppage lasted 7 1/2 months to force the cancellation of games because of a labor dispute for the first time in league history.
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