Raja Bell Utah Jazz Indicate That The Owners Are Pushing To Close The NBA

Raja Bell Utah Jazz Indicate That The Owners Are Pushing To Close The NBA: Backed by a legion of NBA actor representatives, NBPA executive Billy Hunter said Thursday that he believes league owners are pushing for a lockout with an ultimate goal of breaking the actors union. Hunter and NBPA president Derek Fisher spoke with the media later actors held their annual meeting in downtown Manhattan. The gathering preceded a pivotal conference Friday between the NBA and union. If the sides are unable to make progress during collective bargaining agreement discussions, owners could vote Tuesday to lock out actors during a Board of Governors meeting in Dallas. Hunter said new CBA proposals by the league make a poor deal that NHL actors accepted to end a season-killing lockout in 2004-05 look like a big one. It is my belief that [owners] have to do the same sort of damage, impose the same sort of damage on us,” Hunter said. “[They'vee to break the spirit and will and resolve of the NBA actors in order to achieve what they want. The union was in full force Thursday, with everybody from the Jazz’s Raja Bell, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, and Boston’s Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in attendance. Pierce elicited laughter when he ran into the room requesting Hunter delay his speech until the Celtics forward could join a group consisting of more than fifty players. But the Boston duo was soon characterized by crossed arms and menacing frowns, while Fisher said the union won't fracture during a work stoppage. We’d love to avoid a lockout,” Fisher said. “But we are unified in the sense of not being afraid if that’s what we are faced with. Bell filled in for former Utah actor representative Ronnie Price, who's a free agent next season. Bell said that the NBPA has already given up considerable ground during negotiations, but it has not been met halfway by the league. Unless owners change their stance Friday, the NBA will soon come to a sudden halt. Billy hit the nail on the head when he said it just does not seem anything we do is satisfactory for them right now,” Bell said. “So it gives us the appearance that they are slow marching us to a lockout. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Raja Bell Utah Jazz Indicate That The Owners Are Pushing To Close The NBA