David Stern to Players Union - "I Must Break You"

[Jeffx]

And he'll win too. The NBA Players Union is a joke compared to MLB.

I put a lot of this on Stern. Expansion has killed the league. Sorry Raptor fans, but the NBA had no business going into Canada. I'd get rid of 6-8 teams to start.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5711172

[Andrew]

So much for Stern not anticipating a lockout.

[JaoSming]

A team that was created 15 years ago is breaking the NBA now? wha?

[Murat]

Oh.

[Andrew]

Stern concedes contraction could be on table

NEW YORK (AP)—NBA Commissioner David Stern said Friday he thinks eliminating teams will be on the table during collective bargaining as a way to solve the league’s financial woes.

“It’s a sensitive subject for me because I’ve spent 27 years in this job working very hard not only to maintain all of our teams, but along the way add a few,” Stern said during his preseason conference call.

“But I think that’s a subject that will be on the table with the players as we look to see what’s the optimum way to present our game, and are there cities and teams that cannot make it in the current economic environment. I’m not spending a lot of time on it.”

So, perhaps an idea that's thrown around a lot by sportswriters and fans alike may not be so far-fetched after all. Doesn't seem like anything is imminent though.

[JaoSming]

yea I dont like that idea.....I'd rather them just cut player salaries and hold more exhibitions or neutral site games for more attendance.

[[Q]]

i think the number of teams is fine. i dunno, i feel like even though people come and pay to see these guys, the superstars get paid too much and if players' salaries get cut, i hope they take much of the brunt instead of bench guys/ role players.

[benji]

Not a chance. If anything it'll be rookies, role players and future superstars taking the cuts just like always. That's how collective bargaining works.

Salaries have grown 13% over the last five years, league revenue has risen 15%.

Owners will always want to cut player salaries, Stern represents the owners, unsurprising that he states their exact opening bargaining position. (Cut salaries of future free agents by 2/3rds.)

[Oznogrd]

I think I agree with Simmons (dont remember if it was on PTI or BS Report) when he was talking about this. Of course the league is struggling financially when players like Charlie Villanueva, Channing Frye, Hakim Warrick, hell, I'd even go as far as Joe Johnson are getting paid as much as they are. People are paying for the stars, not for the roleplayers.

Benji's right, the rookies/roleplayers are gonna take the biggest hit, but i mean come on..is it that big a deal if they make a million a year versus 5 million a year?