Welcome to the latest edition of “desperately looking for signs that the lockout will end soon.” Today’s signals come from both sides of labor aisle, as relayed by SI’s Sam Amick
On the heels of Roger Mason’s now-infamous tweet in which the NBPA vice president wrote, “Looking like a season. How u,” but later claimed his account was hacked, one league source claims that union president Derek Fisher text-messaged numerous players last week indicating that some progress had been made and imploring them to be physically prepared just in case the season started on time. There was another curious happening on Thursday, when — according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard — NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver attended the U.S. Open with Wasserman Media Group CEO, Casey Wasserman.
Wasserman Media Group employs one Arn Tellem. Amick explains why this meeting would be important.
According to one agent, the current-day Tellem is as extreme as ever in his views. It is believed that he is a strong advocate of a capitalist system that is far less restrictive than even the previous agreement and is an ardent fan of decertification. If progress had, in fact, been made in the current negotiations, the notion of a high-ranking league official like Silver checking in with the most staunch of opponents to gauge the likelihood of bridging the largest of gaps would seem to be a natural next step.
This is like higher ups of the Union and Confederate armies meeting up for tea some afternoon. They should be looking to kill each other. I wonder, though, if this constitutes any sort of meeting that was allegedly banned by the NBA? Is Adam Silver going to be fined a million bucks?
Meanwhile, Fisher’s text is a good sign because he at least thinks its possible that something could get done in time, and he wants to make sure no one pulls a Shawn Kemp and eats his way out of the league.
That’s leadership, folks.
