Colangelo “optimistic” deal will get done

Another day has passed and NBA arenas around the country stay dark as the lockout concluded its 132nd day on Wednesday.

Instead of seeing hilights from Kobe, Dirk, and LeBron, fans are left with images and sound bites from select players, owners, and Commissioner David Stern leaving downtown New York without a resolution.

Stern set a 5:00PM EST deadline Wednesday for the players to accept the league’s latest proposal, but both parties could not come to an agreement before the meeting broke.

So is there any silver lining to a deal being struck in the near future?

“I’m always optimistic,” USA Basketball chairman and long-time Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo told Brad Cesmat on “Big Guy on Sports” Wednesday. “I always lean that way, so why should I change now?”

Jerry Colangelo on ‘Big Guy on Sports’

The NBA has changed not only on the court, but off it in recent years, as well.

“It’s a different cast of ownership today then when I was involved,” Colangelo explained to Cesmat. “I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. The interesting thing will be if all this comes to fruition.” 

One of the apparent “hard-line” owners who has come under criticism is the man who replaced Colangelo with the Suns, Robert Sarver. 

With games already cancelled through the end of November, there was speculation Stern would extend cancellation through Christmas.

“We have made no such plans, and we have had no such discussions,” Stern told NBA TV.

Two major hurdles include a revenue sharing agreement between the owners and players, as well division regarding parts of the current salary cap system.