NY Times: Camps May Open Late

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

          January 18, 1999

          Dotting the I's Is Hard; Camps May Open Late


          By MIKE WISE

          Just when you thought the National Basketball
          Association was back in business, the league and
          the players' union are dueling again.

          Lawyers for both sides are continuing to work on
          putting the terms of the new collective bargaining
          agreement into writing, but a disagreement over a
          crucial economic issue now threatens to delay the start
          of training camp and the free-agent signing period on
          Tuesday.

          "There are a lot of issues still open," Jeffrey
          Mishkin, the league's chief legal officer, said
          yesterday. "We're trying to get it done by Monday
          night, but I don't know if that's going to happen."

          Neither the league nor the union would give specifics,
          but officials on both sides said the biggest stumbling
          block was over the maximum length of contracts under
          the mid-level salary exception.

          The exception starts at $1.75 million, rises to $2.25
          million by the third year and becomes whatever the
          average salary is in the league in the fourth year.

          The union contends that the two sides agreed that
          mid-level contracts could be signed for up to six
          years.

          The league says the length of mid-level contracts was
          not settled at the 12-hour negotiating session that
          saved the N.B.A. season from cancellation 10 days ago.

          The management has proposed that players be able to
          sign a contract for three years under the exception.

          These are among the other issues the two sides are
          still haggling over:

          ¶The definition of basketball-related income, which is
          split between the league and the players.

          ¶The sharing of television revenue.

          ¶Several conduct issues, including the details of a new
          antidrug program.

          The lockout remains in effect until an agreement is
          signed, meaning that training camps and the signing and
          trading period may not begin until later this week.

          <snip>

                Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company