Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
So the NBA lockout has taken another turn toward the absurd as 50 players -- some All-Stars, some Spencer Haweses -- reportedly had a chit-chat or two about decertification this week. These talks came after reports suggested that union leaders Derek Fisher and Billy Hunter are now at odds. All the while, the NBA has agreed to rekindle talks on Saturday. This is a grand bouillabaise of "are you serious?", and I'll understand if it takes a moment to sort your potatoes from your cabbage.
But friend-of-SB Nation Paul Flannery, WEEI's superlative Celtics and NBA writer, has an interesting observation about where things stand if all of the reports out there are to be believed.
When it comes down to it, it seems like the current interests of Billy Hunter and the players and agents pushing for decertification align, don't they?
This isn't to say Hunter wants decertification: in fact, decertification has long been seen as a way to drop Hunter from the talks, and many consider Hunter's refusal to play the decert card in July or August a move of self-preservation. But if a decert movement does start, it would largely ensure that the union doesn't take a 50-50 deal anytime soon. That follows Hunter's reported position. Decert would also take forever to get going since it will be a battle to execute, unless Fisher has a change of heart from his reporting position. So Hunter wouldn't have immediate concerns of being pushed away.
Which means that in the immediate, based on the anonymously-sourced reports, Hunter wants the same thing as do the people who want to get rid of him.
This is so depressing and weird and weird.
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