NBA refs’ lead negotiator takes a hike

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After agreeing to two league proposals which his members shot down, a source close to the NBA referees’ union says lead negotiator Lamell McMorris has withdrawn, leaving the locked-out refs on their own.

After talks broke off last week, McMorris announced he would turn over future negotiations to the union’s counsel and its five-referee board of governors.

Actually, the source says McMorris, who was in his first negotiation representing the referees, has turned everything over to the counsel and the board. Last week, senior referees began calling outside lawyers, seeking direction on how to proceed in these talks.

McMorris has not replied to telephone and email requests for comment.

Despite all the screaming coming from the talks, with Commissioner David Stern having withdrawn earlier, the union leadership’s agreement to two league proposals suggests the two sides are actually close to a deal.

The issue now seems to be as much within the union, as between the union and the league. Last week McMorris took the latest agreement to his members with a 3-2 majority on his board. Joey Crawford, Bennett Salvatore and Bill Spooner were in favor; Steve Javie and Bob Delaney were against.

During the ensuing discussion, or uproar, Spooner reportedly switched his vote, and the membership overwhelmingly voted it down.

At least they won’t have Lamell McMorris to push around any more.

-- Mark Heisler