The National Basketball Players Association is slated to elect a new executive director today.
Or not.
I’m generally optimistic about Chris Paul as president, but more than 17 months after ousting Billy Hunter, the players’ union still doesn’t totally have its act together.
Marc Stein of ESPN
NBA Players Association meeting underway in Vegas this afternoon along w/ Team USA camp. Voting for new union head is scheduled for tonight
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2014
But I've heard rumbles that some on hand have asked if NBPA vote is happening too quickly given relative anonymity of the three finalists
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2014
According to schedule laid out by union, players will get 45-minute sessions to get to know the three candidates and then cast their votes
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2014
Crazier still: Union officials have included as much detail in their memo to players about the post-vote afterparty as the voting itself
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2014
According to report from USA Today's @JeffZillgitt contacted 300 potential candidates to replace Billy Hunter and interviewed 70. But ...
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2014
But the three finalists include two lawyers w/ no NBA ties (Michele Roberts and Dean Garfield) and longtime Dallas Mavs exec Terdema Ussery
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2014
Word is numerous agents, after conference call today, have advised players to seek delayed vote to ensure finalists indeed best finalists
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2014
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
As some expected, retired player Jerry Stackhouse showed at NBPA meeting and criticized process for executive director, source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2014
Stackhouse doesn't have official role in NBPA process, but has support. One player in room tells Yahoo, "He's trying to initiate a divide."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2014
NBPA executive committee believes it will get a vote on a new executive director tonight, sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2014
After the show, it’s the after-party. And after the party it’s the hotel lobby.
Oh. Where was I?
I wouldn’t necessarily read to much to the NBPA focusing so much of its memo to the after-party. Some things are just more clearly communicated in other formats. A single memo doesn’t mean the union cares only about the after-party. More info about the vote could be coming at the meeting itself.
However, the other information about the vote potentially being delayed is troubling.
The players got torched in the last lockout. Another lockout is coming. Between, they’re mishandling issues.
I’d love to see the union achieve better results against the owners, but that must start with them handling their internal issues better.
