Is Day 120 the lucky one?
NBA players and owners seem more likely than ever to end the lockout, though there are still obstacles in the way of a deal Friday in New York.
The two sides will continue to debate the luxury tax before turning to the biggest item of all, the split of basketball-related income. Optimism has been a large part of the last two days, but...
"They're still kind of far apart," said a person who gets daily briefings on the discussions.
Players don't want a high luxury tax because they think it will deter owners from amassing large payrolls. Owners, perhaps in fear of none other than themselves, want a high punitive tax for free-spending teams that are often the big-city ones.
As for the basketball-related income split, the owners have demanded a well-publicized 50-50 split while the players have previously come down as far as 52.5% of the take.
"Big Day today," was how players' union vice president Roger Mason summed it up on his Twitter feed.
A lot still needs to be done. Maybe there will be a resolution, finally.
Shortened season would help young players.
Can players and owners agree on basketball-related income?
--Mike Bresnahan
Photo: Union head Billy Hunter, left, and NBA Commissioner David Stern at a meeting before the start of labor negotiations. Credit: Ed Kosmicki / EPA.
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