NBA: Chris Paul To Be New NBA Players President?

Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

The National Basketball Players Association Executive Committee is trying to push out its president, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher, for reasons not fully explained, with Los Angeles Clippers guard and committee member Chris Paul emerging as a potential replacement.

NBPA vice president and Washington Wizards guard-forward Maurice Evans told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday that Paul would have to be nominated and elected. Until that could happen, executive committee first vice president and Boston Celtics guard Keyon Dooling would be interim president.

“We can’t, by bylaws, say who is going to be the president; that would have to go to a vote,” Evans said. “Chris Paul’s name may circulate as one of the players who could fulfill that role, given that he’s a younger player (at 26), on the executive committee and played a huge role during the lockout. He has the respect of a lot of players.

But Fisher, 37, would have to resign, and as recently as Friday, he said that won’t happen.

The NBPA executive committee Wednesday voted 8-0 “that it lost confidence in Derek Fisher’s ability to act as union president and requested Derek’s resignation,” according to a statement the NBPA released late Friday. Fisher followed with a reply reiterating he will not resign.

The fallout between Fisher and the NBPA has been brewing since the lockout and erupted last week with Fisher’s demand for “an independent review of the business practices and finances.”

Shortly after that, the executive committee voted it no longer wanted Fisher’s leadership and called for his resignation.

“This is not proper protocol to handle this right before the playoffs,” Evans said. “The timing of this is what we’re most disappointed with.

“We’ve tried to clarify, this is not about Derek vs. Mo Evans or Derek vs. the Board or Derek vs. (executive director) Billy Hunter. We’re very satisfied with Billy Hunter and … the role he has played. This is nothing personal against Derek. We’re not trying to disrespect him or embarrass him. We’re trying to let it die down. We’re trying to focus on the game.”

What caused the fallout between Fisher and the NBPA is not exactly clear. At one point during the lockout, Fisher was accused of trying to cut a deal with league negotiators on the side. However, Fisher and the NBA denied that.

Evans said the decision to call for Fisher’s resignation is “a result of certain actions. We feel this is the best action going forward.” But Evans declined to elaborate on those actions.

It does not seem a simple resolution is likely. Fisher is not walking away, and Evans said the bylaws must be combed to figure out what happens if Fisher won’t resign.

It doesn’t seem Fisher will go quietly. His strongly worded statement distributed Friday paints the picture of a determined man.

“Their demand for my resignation and their need to protect the NBPA Management and their own best interests instead of protecting the players we were elected to serve is unfortunate,” Fisher said in the statement. “I have tried to convey the legal and moral obligations we have as union officers. Sadly, the Executive Committee has now waged a personal character attack on me to divert attention from the real issue. The truth.”

The specific reasons for why Fisher requested a business review are also unclear, and for the time being he prefers not to voice those reasons publicly.

“I urge our members to order an independent review beginning immediately, and that will be proven, along with finding out definitively, if there are any issues with the NBPA’s business practices and finances,” Fisher said in his statement.

Without saying what Fisher’s concerns might be, Evans said the executive committee had pointed questions for Hunter about nepotism and misappropriation of funds. Three of Hunter’s relatives receive money from the NBPA, including two who are on the payroll.

• Hunter’s daughter, Robyn Hunter, is the NBPA’s director of player benefits and earns approximately $83,000, according to NBPA documents filed by the NBPA to the U.S. Department of Labor for the period July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

• Hunter’s daughter-in-law, Megan Inaba, is the NBPA’s director of special events and made $173,219 during the period, according to the NBPA’s labor report for that period.

• Hunter’s son, Todd Hunter, is a principal at Prim Capital, a financial planning and investment company based near Cleveland. The NBPA paid Prim Capital $576,824 from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

Also during the lockout, the NBPA retained the law firm of Steptoe and Johnson, which employs Hunter’s daughter Alexis Hunter, whose name appears on at least one court document filed on behalf of the NBPA during the lockout.

However, Evans told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday that Hunter “addressed those and satisfied us with those answers in detail. … We just wanted to make sure everything was in order.”

“There’s nothing to hide on behalf of the executive committee, on behalf of the union, on behalf of Billy Hunter and the relationships we have,” Evans said.

Evans also said there has not been an inappropriate use of funds and defended the union’s stratgey of hiring outside counsel during the lockout.

“We’ve made great decisions on behalf of our players. That’s why we hired great lawyers and had a great law team. We were able to successfully get the deal done,” Evans said.

The NBPA said it conducted an audit in February and said in a statement it “will share the results of the audit with the Executive Committee and Player Representatives at the union’s summer meeting. Additionally, the NBPA conducted two business reviews following the negotiation of the 1999 and 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreements. And with the support of the entire Executive Committee, the union will conduct another business review in a timely manner. We hope for a swift and complete resolution to these issues.”

In his statement, Fisher said he wants an independent review and “a firm of the players’ choosing may conduct the review.”

The veteran has his supporters.

“What’s wrong with doing an audit? I’m very curious about that,” Fisher’s friend and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant told news reporters Saturday. “My first thought is the focus on this audit. That’s my first reaction.”

Lakers player representative Steve Blake also is on Fisher’s side. Fisher, Blake said, “was a great leader for our team, and he’s a great leader for the players’ association. … Anybody who knows him would be with him 100%.”

WRITTEN BY Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY & FULL STORY HERE