With so much attention on the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics recent struggles, Dwight Howard’s impending free agency, Rajon Rondo’s torn ACL, All-Star snubs and surprises, and the hopeful return of Derrick Rose, it seems a major point of contention has gone under the radar.
Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari is not unaware.
He’s referring to the National Basketball Players Association, which is currently led by Billy Hunter.
In a letter addressed to a special committee of players in the NBPA, the Executive Director of the players union made headlines Tuesday for firing his relatives from their positions on the NBPA staff. He stated that his daughter, Robyn Hunter, was relieved of her duties as of January 25, 2012. His daughter-in-law, Megan Inaba, will remain employed until after the All-Star activities conclude on February 17, 2012.
He also stated that the NBPA will no longer associate with Prim Capital, which employs his son, Todd.
Hunter had this to say in the letter:
Hopefully this decision will alleviate any concerns raised by their employment. These measures are being taken although the report noted that both of them were highly qualified, not overpaid, and were contributing members of the NBPA staff…
“In my work for the NBPA, my priority has always been to promote the interests of the players. Through the benefit of hindsight, as with any executive, there are always things that could have been done better. In that spirit, I regret that my long tenure with many successes on behalf of the players has been overshadowed by the appearance of conflicts of interest.”
Aside from all of the glitz and glam of the All-Star weekend, there is time for league business as well.
With the trade deadline four days after All-Star weekend comes to a close, teams will be brokering deals in Houston.
Additionally, player reps (two) from each team will convene for a Players Association meeting. During the meeting, they will need to vote to fill seven vacancies in their executive committee and determine if they want to keep Hunter as their union’s executive director.
One of the foremost player agents in the NBA, Arn Tellum, is urging for players to remove Hunter as Executive Director at the All-Star break, as reported by SheridanHoops own Jacob Noble.
Time will tell—in a few short weeks—if Hunter maintains his job or if the players decide to go in a new direction. However, it seems quite apparent that Gallinari thinks that they ought to go in a new direction.
Tweet of the Night: Stephen Curry
_____
Michael Brumagin is the “Tweet of the Day” columnist for Sheridan Hoops. You can follow him on Twitter.