“Acceptable” Deal Now Possible by Wednesday: NBA Players Folding Under Pressure?

Of course the players rejected the owners’ latest proposal Tuesday.

Of course the union’s line is “the deal is totally unacceptable.”

In a series of negotiations filled with ultimatums, standoffs and ridiculous rhetoric, there was no way the 29 player reps would come out of that meeting in New York with anything less than a firm rejection of the latest proposal, which includes a Wednesday evening deadline imposed by David Stern.

The players would look like losers, like they folded under the constant pressure of Stern, and the entire idea of the NBA’s union would have crumbled with it.

Yet, even with all that said, it seems quite likely that a suddenly “acceptable” deal can be reached by Wednesday. This move by the union was just a final, necessary push to earn a small victory before finally ending this fiasco.

And now, assuming the parties agree to meet Wednesday, which would seem like a sure thing, Stern would probably have to twist a few more arms and tell his owners to accept a couple minor system concessions for the sake of the game.

The whole scenario is further proof that Stern, with two years of preparation, has played these negotiations perfectly.

This deadline move from Stern was as transparent an action as there has been in these negotiations, but also a smart one.

 

Read more at MiamiHerald.com