Mike Kahn
CBS SportsLine Executive Editor
Oct. 5, 1998

By this time next week, the revelation will change. The first week of NBA regular season games will be canceled.

"Maybe

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that's what it will take for everybody to wake up," said the president of a Western Conference team. "I'm not sure. Nobody's sure. What I think must happen is we have to play at least 56 games -- which means you get to play everybody twice. That can be pulled off if we start in early January. Otherwise . . . I don't know."

THAT IN A NUTSHELL, SHOWS HOW FAR the impasse between the NBA and the Players Association has gone. People are talking about January when the opening night is supposed to be Nov. 4.

With the announcement Monday all 114 exhibition games have been canceled -- costing the league $40 million, according to deputy commissioner Russ Granik -- the next step will be Thursday's meeting between the two sides. It's the first time they've met since Aug. 6, when Granik, commissioner David Stern, their general counsel and a variety of owners picked up their books and walked out on the NBPA, executive director Billy Hunter, counsel Jeffrey Kessler and a variety of players.

"I've said all along there's something different about this negotiation," Stern said. "I've been doing this for more than 20 years and there are just bigger problems than ever before."

The most pronounced issue is the mobilization in unity of the players by Hunter and his troops -- led by NBPA president Patrick Ewing. Players will attempt to rally fans Tuesday in a dozen NBA cities to plead their case about not being the bad guys in all of this.

They don't want to let go of the Larry Bird exception, which allows teams to exceed the salary cap at any number for their own free agents. It has, in effect, blown the lid off the salaries of the superstars all the way to Michael Jordan's $33 million last year, plus $100-plus million multiyear pacts for Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Juwan Howard, Shawn Kemp and Kevin Garnett. And all of those numbers are guaranteed.

Granik and Stern have waxed on forever about how last year's basketball-related income paid out over 58 percent to the players last season. The expectation in the collective bargaining agreement was 47-48 percent. It's not that anyone feels sorry for the owners -- who have created their own monster -- but it's tough not to agree with the idea these numbers have been slowed down somehow with a more defined salary cap.

"It's just not possible to go on this way without some teams going out of business," Granik said. "Last year, the players received about $1 billion in salaries and benefits, and we have made proposals that are guaranteed to increase that number by 20 percent over the next four years."

THE LATEST PROPOSAL BY THE NBA would result in the salary cap going up at least $5.5 million this season to more than $31 million -- allowing for an average salary of $3.1 million and the minimum salary for a 10-year veteran $750,000. Previously, the minimum salary was $275,000, regardless of experience, and a growing amount of talented veterans were being forced to accept the minimum because teams were being capped out by their superstars.

"Unfortunately," Granik said, "the union leadership has been unwilling to give any serious consideration to what we have offered."

And that's not to mention the pending lawsuit by the NBPA claiming the NBA needs to pay all guaranteed contracts during the lockout. The concern by Stern and Granik is obvious, if only because their offers keep escalating and the players keep hanging on to the Bird exception. There have been others who believe limiting the number of guaranteed years could be a solution.

Eric Goodwin and his brother Aaron, represent a slew of NBA stars including Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and this year's 10th pick overall, Paul Pierce. Eric Goodwin told CBS SportsLine the players have always wanted to have "out clauses" in contracts that would limit the number of years a deal could be guaranteed from either end.

"The owners just aren't being honest," Goodwin said. "We've always wanted that. They've got to give, too. They sell each other out, and that's the story they don't want to tell. If Glen Taylor didn't give Kevin Garnett $126 million without letting him go out to test the market, then he changed the market all by himself.

"If you're a superstar like Scottie Pippen, everyone will know the market fast. If he's interested in Phoenix and Houston and, say, Chicago, he'll walk in to the highest bidder and say, 'OK, let's get it done.' This whole thing about it taking a month after an agreement just isn't true. Give us a week for free agents and two weeks of training and the players will be ready to go."

Maybe it will be that easy. Chances are it won't.

For now, they have canceled exhibition games. Granik said at the end of next week, without substantial movement, would result in the cancellation of the regular season's first week of games.

See you in December.

How well can Nate skate?

Gary Payton will now have a bridge between himself and head coach Paul Westphal -- Nate McMillan. (Allsport)

McMillan was initially going to take a job as a scout or in community relations his first year or two out, but that changed when George Karl was fired and Westphal was hired.

"Nate and I talked about some transition time from being a player to being a coach," Sonics president Wally Walker said. "But after Paul met with him, Paul wanted him on his staff. I'm all for it. Even when I was still in the broadcast booth and Nate was my seatmate on the (charter), we used to talk about the game, the way things should be done. There's no doubt in my mind he has the brains and the leadership qualities to be an excellent coach in this league."

McMillan also has been perceived as the bridge of personalities between Westphal and the demonstrative Gary Payton. McMillan played in more playoff games than any other player in Sonics history, holds career franchise records for assists and steals and is in the top 10 in 10 different categories.

"Nate will help all the players," Walker said. "He was a great leader in the locker room because he has credibility with players. There just aren't many guys who stand up in the locker room with something to say when it isn't just to benefit them. Nate was one of those guys and that's why players respect him. We think he's got a great future as a coach."

Buried in the Bird cage

Lost in all the hoopla of Larry Bird joining the Basketball Hall of Fame was the election of Lenny Wilkens as a coach. He became the first ever to be in the Hall as both a player and coach.

A classic point guard from Boys High in New York, Wilkens was a spectacular floor leader with the St. Louis Hawks in the 1950s-60s. Because of his brains and his skills, he was capable of scoring or setting up his teammates in consistent fashion.

His approach to the game also set him up to be the most prolific winning coach in NBA history. Wilkens takes 1,120 victories into this season. Pat Riley, at 914, is second among active coaches.

"I feel funny . . . like I crashed Larry's party," Wilkens said. "But I'm really proud to be here and be part of this."

Layups