Derek Fisher maintains a strong stance; Says he doesn’t want NBA Players to have NFL-like contracts
The President of the National Basketball Players Association, Derek Fisher, is adamant that the NBA players have learnt a lesson from the NFL and won’t be making the same mistakes their counterparts did in the NFL labour dispute.
Fisher, who plays as point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, has been around for quite a while and has urged players around the league to learn from the NBA’s own history of lockouts as well as the situation in the NFL that unfolded in the very recent past.
Fisher quoted the example of LaDainian Tomlinson, a former NFL MVP, who many believed was not treated well by his side, the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers had left Tomlinson in the lurch, once they assessed he wasn’t as valuable to them anymore,
“It breaks my heart to see the way guys like LaDainian Tomlinson get dealt with in the NFL,” said Fisher of the former MVP who gained 914 yards for the Jets last season. “To see what he’d done for the San Diego Chargers and to get to that place where he was under a contract that’s already been signed. The Chargers were able to absorb value in income and potential profits from years of his services, and then at the drop of a hat, based on arbitrary thinking because he’s a certain age and he can’t produce at a certain level anymore, he’s gone. Out the door.”
Therefore Derek is determined to block any attempts by the NBA to enforce a hard salary cap and non-guaranteed contracts in the new CBA.
So far there have been no meaningful negotiations since the lockout began and many believe that the two sides are wasting valuable time with their hard posturing. Legal consultants have strongly advised Fisher and Billy Hunter, the executive director of the players union, to decertify and take the NBA to court.
Although, the word in legal circles is that the players have a strong case to take to court, but Fisher and Hunter have so far resisted such a drastic step. They believe that such a move could result in a guaranteed loss of games, and even the complete 2011-2012 NBA season.
Fisher and the players union still believe that is the absolute last resort and are working hard to bring the labour dispute to an end outside of court. Saving NBA games and particularly the season is one of the highest priorities.
David Stern, the NBA Commissioner, also seems to be aware of the NBPA’s reluctance to take the matter to court and is biding his time, sticking with the steep demands of the owners. Analysts believe that we will have to wait for a while before the two sides start to negotiate in earnest.
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