Silver willing to join WNBA talks, remains optimistic for deal

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday night he is tracking WNBA collective bargaining sessions “very closely” and that he and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum would both be willing to join the prolonged negotiations to finalize a deal.

“We’re integrated at the league office,” Silver said ahead of the NBA Cup Final in Las Vegas. “I talk to the people who are at the negotiating table on a daily basis. As I’ve said before, we — the NBA, WNBA collective — acknowledged that our players deserve to be paid significantly more than they have so far based on the increased success of the league, and it’s just a question now of finding a meeting of the minds in terms of what is a fair deal. It’s going to require compromise on both sides.”

On Oct. 21, Silver riled up the WNBA players union when — on the divisive subject of revenue sharing — he said on the “Today Show,” “I think share isn’t the right way to look at it because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA. I think you should look at absolute numbers in terms of what they are making. They are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining and they deserve it.”

The WNBPA responded that day with an Instagram headline, saying, “Don’t want to share, @adamsilvernba?” Nearly two months later, there have been separate 30-day and 40-day extensions to the collective bargaining agreement with still little movement on that same revenue share issue. The players want approximately 30% of league revenue, while the WNBA reportedly prefers the players receive roughly 15% — a gap that sources still call significant with only a little movement in recent days.

For the league’s part, it considers its offers of a $1M max base salary and projected average salary of roughly $500,000 “massive” pay increases, and Silver made clear tonight that the two extensions can be construed as a positive.

“Presumably, the sides wouldn’t have been willing to do that unless they thought there was a constructive path to getting a deal done,” Silver said.

Despite the reaction to his October comments, Silver also said he has “great relationships with many of the players” and believes the sides are on course for a solution. The current 40-day extension ends Jan. 9.

“I remain optimistic we’ll get something done but whether that means I’m physically sitting at the table for the negotiation,” Silver said. “And again, I speak for Mark as well, we have been involved with this league for three decades in essence. I care enormously about it … and want it to be successful and I want the players to feel fairly treated, as well.

“And I realize there’s been a disconnect, especially over the last few months in these negotiations. Sometimes that’s the nature of collective bargaining, and we recognize we have to work through those issues. But it remains a very high priority for me even if I’m not at the table to get an agreement done and get one done as quickly as possible.”