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NEW YORK -- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday he has "no expectation" that players will opt out of the collective bargaining agreement in 2017, potentially leading to another lockout. Jim Kelly Authentic Jersey . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then. But Silver told a gathering of Associated Press Sports Editors that it was too soon to consider that. "Well always be prepared, but I have no expectation that theyre going to opt out. I mean, we havent had any discussions whatsoever about that possibility," Silver said. "I think its premature, frankly, for either side to be making determinations about how well this deal has or hasnt worked, and I think especially given that their leader hasnt even been installed yet, which is something that they of course are freely acknowledging. So I dont really buy into sort of that speculation that theyre already planning to opt out or that were thinking about it." The 2011 deal cut the players guarantee of basketball revenues from 57 per cent to 50, saving owners hundreds of millions in salary costs. They have seen the benefit, with sales of franchises soaring, though Silver said there are still eight teams that arent profitable. The league sought a 10-year deal, much longer than players wanted, so the compromise was reached to allow either side to terminate it early. "Our leagues recently reported economic successes come as no surprise to the players," NBPA acting executive director Ron Klempner said in an email. "That being said, we negotiated for the right to opt out of the CBA, and just as the owners will do, the players will consider our options at the appropriate time. Its way too early to commit to any decision one way or the other." The players are still seeking a replacement for former executive director Billy Hunter, who was ousted last February. They said recently they expect to hire one by the start of next season. Meanwhile, owners met in New York last week and got an update on the CBA through what could be its midway point. "We presented sort of the facts as we know them so far under this agreement," Silver said. "Is it working in ways we predicted, here are things that we would not have predicted under the agreement, heres the amount of free agency movement were seeing, heres how its working economically for the league. And I would assume the union at some point will do those same things." Keith Rivers Authentic Jersey . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. Marquise Goodwin Authentic Jersey . The Astros took two of three after losing 15 straight series to the Rangers. Houston overcame a four-run deficit to win. Dexter Fowler singled with one out in the ninth, Jason Castro drew a walk and Dominguez hit a long fly ball off Nick Martinez (0-1).ATLANTA -- Eric Young Jr. is proving hes an important part of the Mets winning formula. Thats especially important with New Yorks outfield about to become more crowded. Young got three hits, stole three bases and scored four times as the Mets overcame Justin Uptons two home runs to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Thursday night. Young stole five bases in the series as the Mets won two of three from Atlanta. "Hes such a great kid, you root for him all the time, and tonight he showed you he can win games for you," manager Terry Collins said. Young has joined Curtis Granderson and Juan Lagares in the Mets outfield. Chris Young could be moving closer to making his return from the disabled list with a right quadriceps injury. Soon Collins could face difficult decisions in the outfield. "No question about it," Collins said, adding that Eric Young "makes things happen." "We saw it tonight," Collins said. "The guy creates runs." "We talked about it all spring and all winter, what Eric Young brings to the table. When he gets on base he scores runs. He showed it again tonight." Young had two steals in the Mets 4-0 win on Tuesday night. "Anytime you do your job at the top of the lineup, especially with a couple of guys behind me driving me in, its a lot of fun," Young said. The Mets broke a 4-all tie in the seventh. Luis Avilan (1-1) gave up a leadoff single to Daniel Murphy, who scored on a two-out single by Juan Lagares off Gus Schlosser. Murphy drove in three runs with three hits. Carlos Torres (2-0) allowed only one hit in two scoreless innings. Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his second save. Led by Young, the Mets stole five bases, their highest total since May 28, 2011, against Philadelphia. Young also used his speed to lead off a two-run third inning with a bunt single. "Young scored four runs by himself," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who added, "that pretty much beat us." Upton drove in three runs with three hits. He had no homers before hiss breakout game. Aaron Williams. He hit an opposite-field homer in the second inning before his long two-run blast to left field in the third. "Tonight I was just comfortable," Upton said. "The only thing I can do is try to take that same exact feel to tomorrow night and the next day and try to make something of it." Older brother B.J. Upton hit a triple after receiving pregame batting tips from former Braves star Chipper Jones. Justin Uptons second homer gave the Braves a 4-3 lead. Mets starter Jenrry Mejia, obviously frustrated, slapped his mitt and then appeared to throw the glove to the grass. "I just threw my hand up and the glove went out of my hand," he said. Mejia gave up four runs in five innings on six hits and four walks. Atlantas David Hale also had control problems as he gave up four runs, three earned, in 4 1-3 innings on five hits and five walks. The Mets tied the game in the fifth on a leadoff triple by Young and Murphys single. The Mets loaded the bases on two walks by Hale, but reliever Anthony Varvaro struck out Lagares and ended the inning on Travis dArnauds groundout. Ike Davis was 0 for 3 with two walks and a RBI in his start at first base. Collins said Lucas Duda, who had a pinch-hit single in the eighth, is still the starter. Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons was held out with a jammed right wrist. He said he hurt the wrist in a home-plate collision in Wednesday nights game. He is day to day. Ramiro Pena, making his first start of the season, replaced Simmons and had one hit. NOTES: Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, sat near the Braves dugout. ... Hale is Atlantas first starting pitcher to give up more than two runs this season. ... Young was 2 for 2 with two singles in an extended spring game in Port St. Lucie. ... RHP Dillon Gee will be on the mound when the Mets open a weekend series at the Angels, who will start LHP Tyler Skaggs, on Friday night. ... Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran will face Washington RHP Tanner Roark as the Braves homestand continues. ' ' ' |
