There seems to be very little optimism that the NBA will avoid a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires June 30.
In November, Billy Hunter, the executive director of the NBA Players Association, told reporters he was "99 percent sure" a lockout was coming and warned players to save their money.
Commissioner David Stern wants to cut $700-$800 million from players' salaries, eliminate guaranteed contracts and put a hard salary cap into place.
Former Pistons coach Michael Curry, now an assistant to former Pistons coach Doug Collins in Philadelphia, spent four years as president of the NBA Players Association.
Like Hunter, Curry expects a lockout.
"We knew when we did the deal in '05 that the one in 2011 would be a tough one," Curry said. "So in all labor disputes if you're going to get a deal done, there's going to be give and take. i think both parties have done a good job of not negotiating through the media, not in a negative way. But the actual deal is going to get done sitting down at the table and trying to see if you can come to a common ground where both sides can be happy. Eventually that will happen. I just hope it happens sooner than later."
The Players Association rejects Stern's claim that the league will lose up to $350 million this season.
In their November newsletter sent to the players and obtained by AOL's NBA Fanhouse, the union said, "The NBA's loss projections are incorrect. One of our most fundamental disagreements with the Commissioner and owners involves the financial health of the league. It is indisputable that the NBA will achieve record-setting revenues for the 2010-11 season. The league has sold a record 50,000 new season ticket packages and TNT generated the network's highest ratings in 27 years for the 2010-11 season opener. Additionally, NBA officials have predicted that merchandise sales will achieve record levels for the coming season.
