HoopsHype.com Rumors

Adrian Wojnarowski: Attorney Jeffrey Kessler joined the talks via speaker phone to make 51-49 proposal to league, source says. Stern, Peter Holt shot it down. Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt, Jeffrey Kessler 

Ken Berger: Holt on reason the deal came together tonight: "We want to play basketball. Let's go play basketball." Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

David Locke: Holt "This is going to give us an opportunity, whether you are in a small market or large market you will have hope" Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Lockout, NBPA, Owners, Peter Holt 

Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of the owners' labor relations committee, also was in New York for Friday's settlement conference on the 148th day of the lockout, as was former union president Derek Fisher, sources told CBSSports.com. Tempestuous players attorney Jeffrey Kessler will not be present. While Kessler still is "very much involved," according to a source, he no longer has the role of lead negotiator for the players and has been replaced in that capacity by Quinn, a voice of reason with a long history of deal-making with key figures and attorneys on both sides of the dispute. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Derek Fisher, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt, Jeffrey Kessler 

Jeff Zillgitt: According to a person with info, talks between NBA/players involve key players -- Stern, Silver, Holt, Hunter, Klempner. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt, Adam Silver 

Back-channel talks of various forms have been taking place "for a while now," though the parties have tried to keep that quiet, another source said. Peter Holt, chairman of the NBA's labor relations committee that oversaw CBA negotiations with the now-former-union, was in New York on Tuesday. NBA.com

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

Alan Hahn: The "competitive balance" refrain by Silver was clear message that small market teams will rule day. I'm told Holt (Spurs) is unrelenting. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

Another 12 hours of talks are in the books, and the push to get this mess past the finish line endures. ”I don’t want to talk about our current state of mind or where we are,” said Stern, who was joined in the negotiating session by just one owner, Peter Holt of the San Antonio Spurs (the chairman of the owners’ labor relations committee.) “At the end of the negotiating session, whether it ends today or tomorrow, that’s when our offer reverts. We trying to demonstrate our good faith, and I think the union is trying to show its good faith,” Stern said. “Every day that we lose another game it just enhances the case to make a deal and causes both sides to try to make a deal. We’re here, the clock is stopped, and we’re trying to see if we can get something to go back to our respective sides with. SheridanHoops

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

David Aldridge: For league: Stern, Silver, Spurs owner Peter Holt (chair of labor relations committee), attorneys Dan Rube and Rick Buchanan. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

According to a person involved in the process, the owners have played it wrong in challenging the players -- unless it is their intent not to have a deal. Which it may be. Last month, during the first federal mediation, Chris Paul got overheated when San Antonio owner Peter Holt said of their revenue-split 50-50 offer, “Take it or leave it.’’ Paul shouted back several times: “Take it or leave it?’’ The union left it. New York Post

New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul, CBA, Lockout, NBPA, Peter Holt 

Sean Deveney: Most sources say that the next step in this lockout could hinge on Peter Holt, and how far he can get his labor committee to bend. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

But fans aren’t the only ones upset with these owners. Players and agents are just as frustrated, and one agent tells HOOPSWORLD that they’ll remember their actions long after the lockout comes to an end. “I don’t want any of my clients playing for Michael Jordan, Paul Allen, Robert Sarver, Dan Gilbert or Peter Holt,” said one agent. “We won’t sign with them, unless they’re willing to really overpay. That’s going to be the only way these hardline owners are going to land any free agents after the way they’ve handled these negotiations.” HoopsWorld

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Michael Jordan, Paul Allen, CBA, Dan Gilbert, Lockout, Robert Sarver, Agents, Peter Holt 

Sources say that there’s a determined push led by San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt to allow teams to have at least two years to decide whether or not to amnesty one player, with multiple sources telling ESPN.com this week that they believe the concept -- with restrictions that are still being haggled over -- has indeed won sufficient support to be included in the new labor deal. ESPN.com

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA, Owners, Peter Holt 

Marc Stein: One trusted exec chimes in convinced new Amnesty Clause HAS to include provision forbidding teams on using it on players acquired by trade Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, NBPA, Owners, Peter Holt 

David Aldridge: Today's roster, besides usual suspects: owners: Peter Holt, Jim Dolan, Glen Taylor, Mark Cuban. Players: Chris Paul, Theo Ratliff. Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Hornets, Chris Paul, CBA, Mark Cuban, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Owners, Glen Taylor, Peter Holt 

Neither Stern nor Hunter disclosed the exact progress made on the system issues, but sources indicated the sticking-point luxury tax issue still hasn’t been fully resolved. Yesterday, the ownership group was represented by Stern, Silver, owners James Dolan of the Knicks, Peter Holt (San Antonio) and Glen Taylor (Minnesota) and economist Dan Rube. The Players Association group featured Fisher, union executive director Billy Hunter, lead attorney Ron Klempner and economist Kevin Murphy. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Derek Fisher, CBA, James Dolan, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Owners, Glen Taylor, Peter Holt 

Bonner heard the unsubstantiated rumor, proffered on Twitter after Thursday’s blowup, that Spurs owner Peter Holt told the players they hadn’t yet endured enough pain. Re- tweeted so often that it took on a life of its own, the quote was attributed only to an unnamed source but gained traction for a few hours, a veritable lifetime in cyberspace. “I never heard Peter say anything like that,” Bonner said. “Peter’s a really good guy, and he never loses his cool, and he’s always respectful.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

Alex Kennedy: Source clarified that Holt's comment was made the week before, when Fisher and Evans were the only players in the room. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

Alex Kennedy: The NBPA isn't happy with Spurs' owner Peter Holt. Source says he's slowing talks and told the players, "You haven't felt enough pain yet." Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt 

According to a sources, Holt/Silver made the take-it-or-leave it threat to the players’ negotiating committee. Sources said Hornets point guard Chris Paul shot back, “You’re saying take it or leave it?” “Take it or leave it,” Holt was said to have responded. New York Post

New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Peter Holt