Utah Jazz’s Raja Bell says owners are pushing for NBA lockout

New York • Backed by a legion of NBA player representatives, NBPA executive director Billy Hunter said Thursday that he believes league owners are pushing for a lockout with an ultimate goal of breaking the players union.

Hunter and NBPA president Derek Fisher spoke with the media after players held their annual meeting in downtown Manhattan. The gathering preceded a pivotal conference Friday between the NBA and union. If the sides are unable to make progress during collective bargaining agreement discussions, owners could vote Tuesday to lock out players during a Board of Governors meeting in Dallas.

Hunter said recent CBA proposals by the league make a poor deal that NHL players accepted to end a season-killing lockout in 2004-05 look like a great one.

“It’s my belief that [owners] have to do the same kind of damage, impose the same kind of damage on us,” Hunter said. “[They] have to break the spirit and will and resolve of the NBA players in order to achieve what they want.”

The union was in full force Thursday, with everyone from the Jazz’s Raja Bell, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, and Boston’s Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in attendance. Pierce elicited laughter when he ran into the room requesting Hunter delay his speech until the Celtics forward could join a group consisting of more than 50 players. But the Boston duo was soon characterized by crossed arms and menacing frowns, while Fisher said the union will not fracture during a work stoppage.

“We’d love to avoid a lockout,” Fisher said. “But we’re unified in the sense of not being afraid if that’s what we’re faced with.”

Bell filled in for former Utah player representative Ronnie Price, who is a free agent next season.

Bell said that the NBPA has already given up considerable ground during negotiations, but it has not been met halfway by the league. Unless owners change their stance Friday, the NBA will soon come to a sudden halt.

“Billy hit the nail on the head when he said it just doesn’t seem anything we do is satisfactory for them right now,” Bell said. “So it gives us the appearance that they are slow marching us to a lockout.”