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National Basketball Players Association officials met with NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Don Fehr and MLB Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner last month as part of their effort to find a new head for the players union. “The process has started, and for anyone to think we are not moving forward is inaccurate,” said Jerry Stackhouse, a member of the NBPA executive committee. But Stackhouse added that players are in “no rush” to replace the former executive director, Billy Hunter. Responding to reported frustration over the pace of the selection process, Stackhouse said leaders want to take their time in rebuilding the union and involve players. “A union is, and what it should be, is for the players, and that hasn’t happened in recent times,” he said. NBPA leaders voted unanimously to fire Hunter on Feb. 16, after an independent investigation found that he had acted in his own interests and against players’ interest in running the union. Sports Business Daily

Law, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Don Fehr 

Stackhouse and Ron Klempner, who is the NBPA’s deputy general counsel and who has been acting executive director since Hunter was fired, attended a meeting with Fehr and Weiner at the MLBPA headquarters in Manhattan in April. In addition to Fehr and Weiner, Tony Clark, a former MLB first baseman who is now MLBPA director of player relations, and Mathieu Schneider, a former NHL defenseman who is now the NHLPA special assistant to the executive director, also attended the meeting. Both Fehr and Weiner confirmed that the meeting occurred but declined further comment. Fehr’s name has been mentioned as a potential successor to Hunter, but he reaffirmed last week that he intends to stay at the NHLPA. Stackhouse said he was seeking information on how unions are run, as well as the processes unions have used to elect an executive director. News of the meeting comes as some NBA agents have privately been grumbling that nothing was happening in the search for a new union leader. Stackhouse, who is represented by Excel Sports Management founder Jeff Schwartz, said that was not the case. Sports Business Daily

Law, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Don Fehr 

Liz Mullen: SBJ: NBPA reps, @Jerry Stackhouse met with MLBPA's Michael Weiner, NHLPA's Don Fehr for advice on how to rebuild NBA players union Twitter @SBJLizMullen

Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA, Don Fehr 

So Hunter claims that one of the highest-compensated players and his agent called him on Oct. 27, 2011, and said a 50-50 BRI deal had been struck with ownership and Hunter should accept it. I am not certain who that player is. I have been told by two different sources it was Kobe Bryant. Bryant and Fisher share the same agent — Rob Pelinka. Bryant and Fisher are close friends; they joined the Lakers the same year. Bryant was the NBA’s highest-paid player in 2011-12, earning $25 million. Bryant spent part of the 2011 offseason in Germany receiving experimental treatment for his arthritic knee. Given his salary, advancing age, health concerns and legendary competitive zeal, no NBA player had more reason to be desperate for an end to the lockout than Bryant. FOXSports.com

Kobe Bryant, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents, Rob Pelinka 

On Friday, I made several attempts to speak with Pelinka. We’ve known each other for 20 years. He was a role player on the Michigan “Fab Five” basketball teams that I covered for the Ann Arbor News. We also occasionally run into each other in Los Angeles. I left a message at his office. I left a voicemail on his cell phone. I wrote him a detailed email explaining why I was contacting him. I also sent him a text message that my iPhone confirmed that he read. Pelinka did not respond to my inquiries. Whether it was Bryant, Garnett or some other highly compensated veteran player who contacted Hunter on Oct. 27, 2011, doesn’t really matter. (Although a court case and Hunter’s phone records will eventually reveal the callers.) The point is that during the lockout, Hunter was caught between the NBA’s elite and the rank-and-file players who actually worked in the union. FOXSports.com

Kobe Bryant, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Kevin Garnett 

Darnell Mayberry: Derek Fisher says he was just made aware of Billy Hunter's lawsuit moments ago. "I won't choose to comment at this point," Fisher said. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Embattled former National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter filed a lawsuit against the NBPA, NBPA President Derek Fisher and Fisher's publicist and business partner, Jamie Wior, seeking compensation and punitive damages. "The suit cites several instances in which Fisher, Wior and certain players undermined Hunter's efforts to win an agreement that would benefit a broad range of NBA players, breaching terms of his employment and interfering with his ability to do his job as Executive Director," a news release said. "Once the (2011) lockout ended with an agreement in line with the owners' demands, Fisher and Wior waged a campaign to terminate his employment without cause and in violation of his contract." USA Today Sports

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

NBA players relieved Hunter, who had been under pressure for hiring practices and financial deals with his son's investment firm, of his duties during All-Star weekend Feb. 16 in Houston. "It's unfortunate that I must take this action against an organization where I had the privilege of working with many dedicated associates over 17 years," Hunter said in a statement. "I'm proud of our record of achievement on behalf of players during my tenure as Executive Director and will continue to stand up for their interests. But I cannot let stand attacks on my character or accept what has been done." USA Today Sports

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Hunter is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages based on his termination, at the time of which he was owed $10.5 million in salary through 2015. The former executive director is seeking, at minimum, the money he was owed on his contract at the time of his termination. "That would be the bottom," a person with knowledge of Hunter's legal strategy told CBSSports.com. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Hunter's lawsuit alleges Fisher "actively manipulated the investigation" by the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison "by making false statements impugning Hunter's character." Hunter questions the validity of his termination "for cause" in the lawsuit because the reasons for his termination were not specified in the letter. He also uses Fisher's authority to sign his termination letter as proof Fisher also had the authority to sign Hunter to the contract in the first place. Fisher's signature also was on Hunter's 2010 employment contract, which the Paul- Weiss firm concluded in its report based on a nine-month investigation was not valid. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Billy Hunter sued the National Basketball Players Association and president Derek Fisher on Thursday for defamation and breach of contract stemming from his dismissal as the union's executive director. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in Oakland, alleges that Fisher and his publicist, Jamie Wior, conspired to negotiate a secret deal to end the 2011 lockout and that their actions amounted to a breach of Hunter's employment contract with the NBPA. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Jamie Wior 

"Once the lockout ended with an agreement in line with the owners' demands, Fisher and Wior waged a campaign to terminate his employment without cause and in violation of his contract," the lawsuit alleges, according to a press release from Hunter's attorneys. Hunter is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages based on his termination, at the time of which he was owed $10.5 million in salary through 2015. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Jamie Wior 

Darnell Mayberry: Derek Fisher says he was just made aware of Billy Hunter's lawsuit moments ago. "I won't choose to comment at this point," Fisher said. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Liz Mullen: SBJ: NBA players union meeting to be pushed back from June to August or September. No search firm hired yet to find new NBPA chief. Twitter @SBJLizMullen

NBPA 

Tim Bontemps: The NBPA issued a statement supporting Jason Collins and his announcement today. Will excerpt it in the next couple tweets. Twitter @TimBontemps

Jason Collins, NBPA 

Tim Bontemps: Statement, Pt. 1: "As Jason wrote, pro basketball is a family, and he has and always will be our brother." Twitter @TimBontemps

Jason Collins, NBPA 

Tim Bontemps: Statement, Pt. 2: "The NBPA is dedicated to fighting for the best interests of and uniting all players regardless of race, creed, color ..." Twitter @TimBontemps

Jason Collins, NBPA 

Tim Bontemps: Statement Pt. 3: "... age, national origin, or sexual orientation. Today is another example that we are intent on continuing that work." Twitter @TimBontemps

Jason Collins, NBPA 

Tim Bontemps: Statement, Pt. 4: "We congratulate Jason for having the courage to 'raise his hand,' as he wrote in his story, and start the conversation." Twitter @TimBontemps

Jason Collins, NBPA 

The founder of an investment firm that handled the National Basketball Players Association's investments and finances has been charged with fraud. Federal prosecutors in New York unveiled a three-count complaint Thursday against Ohio-based Prim Capital Corporation founder Joseph Lombardo. The 72-year-old was charged with attempted wire fraud, attempted mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Prim principle Carolyn Kaufman was charged with obstructing justice. Authorities say Lombardo used a signature stamp to forge the signature of a deceased general counsel for the NBPA and another employee that awarded Prim a $3 million fee over five years. NBA.com

Law, NBPA