NBA players meet in LV to ponder future

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 | 10:26 a.m.

Those expecting a quick end to the current NBA lockout may be in for quite a wait.

At least that was the impression left by some of the key principals following a hush-hush meeting of the player agents' advisory council Wednesday at Caesars Palace.

It was thought the NBA players' union might consider decertifying after losing a guaranteed contracts arbitration grievence before arbitrator John Feerlick on Monday.

But now it appears the players instead may elect to continue to present a united front, and resist accepting a lesser deal even if the lockout lasts into January.

"We don't think decertification is necessary at this moment, not that it won't become necessary in the future," NBA union director Billy Hunter said. "Not at this moment because we have solidarity. The players are together. We think the fight is just beginning."

Just how solid should become more evident this afternoon at Caesars Palace when NBA superstars like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone are expected to attend a union meeting open to all players.

But one player in attendance at Wednesday's meeting, Kendall Gill of the New Jersey Nets, made it sound like the players were in it for the long haul.

"The owners did wrong when they think that we don't have any resolve and that we're going to give up in two or three weeks, whenever we miss a couple of paychecks," Gill said. "Hey, some guys have saved their money. Some guys are ready to do what it takes to get the best deal."

Agent Dwight Manley, who counts star players like Malone and Dennis Rodman among his clients, also sided with the players.

"I think there have been some very fair proposals, ones that have been very compromising for both sides and very fair," Manley said. "And the owners have still wanted to go the other way. So I think (NBA Commissioner David) Stern has backed himself into a corner and he may pay the ultimate price."

"The players will not back down," Hunter said. "The sooner the owners realize this and end the lockout, the quicker we can avoid enormous damage to the sport of basketball."

Players earlier this summer gave the union's executive council the go-ahead to decertify, much like the NFL players did after their strike failed in 1987. So a vote today among the rank-and-file would not be necessary.

By decertifying, the union would remove itself as the official bargaining agent for NBA players who could then seek a court injunction to end the lockout.

If an injunction were granted, the owners would have to open training camps and impose new work rules. That could result in a lengthy antitrust suit by the players --- the NFL's lasted five years --- but it would at least get the players back on the court playing basketball ... and collecting paychecks ... again.

However, barring a surprising turnaround at today's meeting, it looks like the players are willing to try to wait out the lockout.