Times wires
Friday, April 15, 2011
ORLANDO — Magic guard J.J. Redick will be a game-time decision for tonight's Game 1 against the Hawks but said Friday that he feels healthy enough to play.
Redick missed the final 17 games with a lower abdominal strain. But he got through Friday's two-hour workout.
"I did the whole practice with no limitations, no issues," said Redick, averaging a career-best 10.1 points in his fifth season. "We're going to see how it responds. But hopefully, if all goes well, I'll be available."
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he will "wait and see."
"I thought he looked good," he said. "He shot the ball well. It looked like he was getting up and down the floor well. If he can go, I'm going to go back to him."
New offer coming, commissioner says
NEW YORK — Commissioner David Stern said the league plans to submit to the union a revised proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement within the next couple of weeks.
Neither Stern nor deputy commissioner Adam Silver offered details of what would be in the proposal to replace the current CBA, which expires June 30. But Stern said during a conference call later that it would indicate to the players "some modicum of flexibility in our approach, and we're trying to engage the union in a dialogue."
Though Silver said there's plenty of time to reach a deal, he said fear of a lockout is "beginning to have an impact on our business."
"We are in discussions with sponsors and other partners about relationships for next year, and we can't assure them that we are going to have games," he said. "They, as you might imagine, began to pull back some of their spending on the NBA."
The league submitted its first proposal in January 2010. The union rejected it during the ensuing All-Star break. The union offered a proposal in July. The owners rejected it, and there has been no progress since.
Kings: Owners Gavin and Joe Maloof were granted an extension until May 2 to request a move to Anaheim, Calif. Stern said it also would give the relocation committee time to research aspects of a move, including a relocation fee. The committee is led by Oklahoma City owner Clay Bennett, who moved the Sonics from Seattle three years ago.
Lakers: Center Andrew Bynum said his right knee feels good. Bynum, who hyperextended it Tuesday when he stepped on the foot of the Spurs' DeJuan Blair, participated in a full practice. He missed the season's first 24 games after offseason surgery for a torn meniscus in his knee.
Ratings: The league said its national TV partners had their most viewers ever this season. TNT was up 42 percent, ABC 38 percent and ESPN 28 percent. Turner Sports also said its 1.6 average rating was its highest in 27 seasons of NBA coverage.
The Orlando Sentinel contributed to this report.