Refs Reportedly Feel Van Exel Got Off Easy

NBA officials, unable to voice their feelings publicly, generally feel that Nick Van Exel of the Lakers got off light with the seven-game suspension and $25,000 fine for giving Ron Garretson a forearm shove, the general counsel of the referee’s union said Friday.

“The consensus I’ve gotten from the members who have called indicate it should have been a bit stiffer,” said Fred Slaughter, who estimates he has spoken with about half of the 58 officials since the action against Van Exel was announced Wednesday afternoon. “However, we have accepted the action by the powers that be. We just felt that this penalty and the [Dennis] Rodman penalty were not stiff enough.”

Referees are prohibited by the league from talking on any matters, other than rare postgame comments to discuss a ruling. Garretson, a veteran official, spoke to a pool reporter after the incident with Van Exel in Denver, but would not speculate on any possible sanctions.

Slaughter also represents two Lakers, Cedric Ceballos and Pig Miller, along with several other players around the league.

“It’s not weird at all,” he said. “And there’s no conflict of interest. I’m merely an attorney, and as an attorney, I’m allowed to represent different sides of labor.”