Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen becoming the villain of NBA Labour Negotiations – NBA Report
Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen was at the fore front of Thursday’s labour meeting between the NBA and the players union, one which didn’t go very well.
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) officials and the league owners were unable to resolve their differences, despite the presence of federal mediator George Cohen, and the talks have now completely broken off.
Since then, rumours have been circulating that Paul, who normally doesn’t attend the meetings, was present to deliver a specific ultimatum to the players. The players supposedly refused to budge and now the NBA lockout looks set
to devour even more games.
NBPA Executive Director took aim at the Allen recently saying the Trail Blazers owner was only present at the meeting to "deliver the message from the board of governors meeting."
Jeffery Kessler, legal counsel for the NBPA, who has been deeply involved in the labour talks throughout the lockout, went a step further.
"We were told Paul Allen was here to express the views of the other board of governors and that view was, 'It's our way or the highway.'" He said.
The NBA owners have demanded radical changes to the leagues financial system that they want written down in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. They want a bigger pie of the Basketball Related Income as well as a hard salary
cap.
The players have dismissed these claims and Allen is alleged to have delivered a message from the owners telling them there won’t be a season if they don’t.
The media picked up the story immediately because of Paul’s big profile. He is the wealthiest owner in the NBA and well known around the world as co-founder of Microsoft.
The NBA has also leapt to defend Paul immediately.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, who is also the league’ chief operating officer, dismissed suggestions that Allen’s presence in the meeting was to deliver an ultimatum, or anything out of the ordinary at all.
He expressed annoyance at more being made of the issue than it warranted.
"I do not understand why his presence has taken on a life of its own as if he was sent in to deliver a message to the players," Silver said.
"Paul is in the same position as every other owner. He wants a system where every team is in a position to compete for a championship and every team, if managed properly, has a chance to make a profit.”
"In no way was his presence intended to send a message."
Both sides have been accusing each other of all sorts of things since the talks broke down, so it is hard to separate fact from fiction. However, Paul hasn’t attended any other meeting so far and he is the only owner to send the
President of his franchise on the NBA labour relations board.
Tags: