NBA players get new offer, and a deadline

Commissioner David Stern gave NBA players an offer and a deadline: Accept a chance to earn up to 51 percent of basketball-related income by Wednesday or get ready for a deal that’s a whole lot worse.

He wouldn’t call it an ultimatum, but it didn’t sure sit well with the union.

“The players will not be intimidated,” attorney Jeffrey Kessler said early Sunday after eight hours of negotiations stretched late into the night. “They want to play, they want a season, but they are not going to sacrifice the future of all NBA players under these types of threats of intimidation. It’s not happening on Derek Fisher’s watch; it’s not happening on Billy Hunter’s watch; it’s not happening on the watch of this executive committee.”

Kessler said the proposal was really 50.2 percent for the players and called the chance of them ever reaching 51 percent a “fraud” and an “illusion.”

Whatever. If players don’t agree to it by Wednesday, Stern said they would get a deal that would guarantee them just 47 percent of BRI and call for a flex salary cap.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press 

A 50-50 split may be best offer players get

NBA players could have a choice Saturday: Accept a 50-50 division of basketball-related income or risk having more owners join the hardline faction that wants a 53-47 split in its favor— and a hard salary cap.

When talks resume, they may quickly break down unless the sides can compromise on positions that seem to be hardening by the minute.

A person briefed on the owners’ position Friday told The Associated Press that there were many hardline owners who want a deal at 53-47 in their favor as well as a hard cap, and that the rest wouldn’t go beyond a 50-50 split.

Players have been seeking 52.5 of revenues in their favor—leaving a gap of about $100 million annually vs. the owners’ proposal—and there is a group of players who have discussed decertification of the union if they are forced to accept less than 52.

Both sides return to the bargaining table Saturday with federal mediator George Cohen, with some salary cap system issues still unresolved along with the BRI split.

Only one thing appears certain—the threat of losing the season has never been greater.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press 

Atlanta Hawks will not be sold to Alex Meruelo or anyone

The Atlanta Hawks will not be sold to California developer and pizza chain owner Alex Meruelo.

In fact, the NBA team is no longer on the market.

The Hawks’ ownership group, headed by Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr., said Friday that the agreement for Meruelo to buy the team had been mutually terminated by both sides. Just last week, there were reports the NBA was delaying approval of sale because of concerns about Meruelo’s finances, though he insisted he had enough money to purchase the team and run it in a first-class manner.

Meruelo, the son of Cuban immigrants, was poised to become the NBA’s first Hispanic team owner and acquire operating rights to Philips Arena, with Levenson and Gearon remaining in a minority role.

Instead, the group known as Atlanta Spirit will remain in charge of the team it has owned since 2004, when it acquired the Hawks and the NHL Thrashers from Time Warner. The group stepped in after a proposed deal with Dallas businessman David McDavid fell through.

“The Atlanta Hawks are no longer for sale,” Levenson said in a statement issued by the Hawks. “We’re excited to remain as owners of the Hawks and are committed to building on our string of four straight playoff appearances.”

— Reported by Paul Newberry of the Associated Press 

Tony Allen gave Ramen noodles to Halloween Trick-or-treaters

Tony Allen

It’s tough for many NBA players  to make ends meet — particularly with no game checks coming during the lockout.

That lack of incoming finances led to a drastic cutback at Memphis guard Tony Allen’s house during Halloween.

Instead of giving trick-or-treaters candy during a visit to his house, Allen provided them with beef and chicken Ramen noodles.

“Sorry kids it’s a lockout no candy!!,” Allen tweeted. ”Got a chicken and beef,::: Ramen noodles.”

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Allen made $3 million last year  for the Grizzlies.  During the course of his seven-season NBA career, he has pocketed $12,777,037

— Reported by Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News

Shaq sues former IT employee over selling of personal emails

shaquille o'neal

Shaquille O’Neal is suing a former information technology employee the former NBA great claims invaded his privacy by selling personal emails that damaged his reputation.

The lawsuit was filed against Shawn Darling in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. It seeks an injunction barring Darling from providing O’Neal’s emails to anyone, unspecified damages and the return of all O’Neal’s private electronic messages.

O’Neal paid Darling up to $150 an hour for IT work.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Judge dismisses Ross Perot Jr. lawsuit against Mark Cuban

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit in which former Dallas Mavericks owner Ross Perot Jr. accused current owner Mark Cuban of mismanaging the team.

State District Judge Craig Smith signed an order in Dallas on Thursday granting Cuban’s motion for summary judgment and denying all of Perot’s claims.

Perot filed the lawsuit in 2010, alleging that the Mavericks were insolvent and that a receiver should be appointed to manage their finances.

— Reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Shaq once went off on teammate Glen Davis

shaquille oneal

From Shaquille O’Neal’s upcoming autobiography:

“Big Baby” Davis kept looking me off and taking it himself. Doc is shouting at him to go inside, but he won’t. So Doc calls timeout and draws up a play for me. I go out there, and I back Andrew Bynum way under the rim. I’m loose, I’m ready. I’ve got Bynum under the basket and again, Baby won’t give me the ball. So I go up to him and say, “If you ever miss me again I’m going to punch you in the face.” I was hot.

Two nights later we’re playing in Sacramento and here we go again. I take three shots the entire game and again I’ve got my man isolated underneath the basket, and Baby ignores me and takes a jump shot. So the next time we’re in the huddle I let Baby have it.

I tell him, “Pass the [expletive] ball inside.” He comes back at me a little bit and now I’m really heated. All hell is breaking loose. We’re going back and forth. Doc is standing there and he’s not saying a word. The message is pretty clear: Work this out yourselves. I tell Baby, “You’re a selfish player. Everyone on this team knows it.” Hey, all the fans knew it. He takes shots when he shouldn’t.

— Reported by Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe

Career of OJ Mayo at a crossroads

OJ Mayo

Mayo’s career is at a crossroads. And the Grizzlies — facing high expectations after a playoff run to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals last season — are right there in terms of evaluating Mayo’s future with the organization. The 6-3 shooting guard brought a household name and bucket loads of points in 2008, going on to average 18 points his first two seasons as a starter.

But those Griz teams weren’t playoff qualifiers.

Mayo, as a reserve, turned in career-low numbers when Memphis broke through with a historic postseason run. Veteran Tony Allen and second-year guard Sam Young emerged while Mayo endured a role reduction.

There are people close to Mayo who believe that a new destination would restore his starter status and change his career outlook.

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Knicks guard Andy Rautins moves home to save money during lockout

Like the rest of his NBA brethren, Andy Rautins is going to miss a few paychecks during the lockout.

To offset that, he’s found a way to save some money.

The Knicks guard has stayed in his parents’ home outside of Syracuse during the lockout, sleeping in his childhood bedroom.

“It’s nice to get some home cooked meals up here,” Rautins, a former Syracuse star, said in a phone interview. “It’s nice because it’s a rare opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Normally, you’d been in a busy season by this time. But I’ve been trying to see the positives in [staying home] and there’s a bunch so far. It’s saving me a lot of money right now and I think that’s a big concern for a lot of players.”

If the lockout extends, Rautins will consider pursuing an internship at his financial adviser’s Manhattan firm to learn about investment advice and financial planning.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

InsideHoops.com editor says: I hope he gets allowance money, and some extra cookies if he mows the lawn and cleans his room.

Derek Fisher threatens legal action due to column

derek fisher

After a column by Fox Sports’ Jason Whitlock suggested that NBA Players Union President Derek Fisher was working with commissioner David Stern during labor negotiations, behind the back of his NBPA colleagues, Fisher has threatened legal action against Fox Sports if he does not receive a retraction.

Whitlock, who cited sources in this report, said that Fisher hopes to work with an NBA team or with the league after his retirement and was looking to work out a deal with Stern that would force the players to settle for a 50-50 split of basketball-related income. The players’ association is seeking a 52-48 split and those two percentage points are the main point of contention between the sides. The NBA lockout has lasted more than four months.

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe