Owners Meet Today on Labor Agreement

The NBA Board of Governors meets today to discuss--and possibly vote on--re-opening the collective bargaining agreement.

A vote to re-open could be a step toward a lockout this summer since owners have the unilateral right to set aside the agreement and force both sides back to the bargaining table.

Commissioner David Stern, Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik and representatives from all 29 teams will meet at an airport hotel in Dallas to consider recommendations from the league’s nine-man labor committee, which reportedly has strongly suggested scrapping the current six-year collective bargaining agreement.

A simple majority, or 15 votes, would be needed to authorize a re-opening.

The league would then begin negotiations with the players union, with a deadline of June 30 for reaching an agreement without any type of work stoppage.

If a new agreement isn’t negotiated by July 1, a lockout likely would be imposed.

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At least three of Michael Jordan’s teammates say Jordan’s future with the Chicago Bulls depends more on the team retaining Scottie Pippen than it does on keeping Phil Jackson as coach, The New York Times reported.

The newspaper said the players, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Jordan wants Pippen to return and is less concerned with Jackson’s plans. Pippen becomes a free agent after the season.

Jackson repeatedly has said he plans to leave the Bulls after this season, and management has made no move to change his mind. Jordan has said he would play only for Jackson.