NBA union boss says lockout in 2011 is likely

Insisting that the NBA's financial projections "strain credulity," players' association executive director Billy Hunter said yesterday he has seen nothing to change his belief that a lockout is possible.

Hunter disputes commissioner David Stern's forecast of nearly $400 million in losses this season, countering that the league's basketball-related revenues increased to their highest point ever in 2009-10.

"Our position is that David is mistaken," Hunter told the Associated Press, adding he believes things are "much, much better than they maintain."

The league's collective bargaining agreement expires next summer. The sides have started negotiations toward a new one but remain far apart, creating fears of the first work stoppage since 1998-99.

"I'm preparing for a lockout right now and I haven't seen anything to change that notion. Hopefully I'll see something over the next several months," Hunter said. "As of this moment, it's full speed ahead for me in preparing the players for a worst-case scenario."

Stern predicted the $400 million loss during the All-Star weekend in February, amending it to about $370 during a press conference Monday in Las Vegas following a meeting of the league's board of governors.

The union was alerted to that projection last summer, but Hunter contends revenues turned out to be much higher than anticipated - though deputy commissioner Adam Silver said costs were up, too.

Hunter was already wary of the league's projections after it warned its teams last July that next season's salary cap could fall as low as $50.4 million. It was set last week at $58.0 million, even higher than this season's.

"Clearly it causes us some concern, causes us to question their numbers," Hunter said.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West has a plea hearing scheduled in connection with his 2009 arrest for speeding on a motorcycle and carrying weapons.

West, who starred at Saint Joseph's, had been scheduled for a trial next week, but now Maryland court records show he has a plea hearing scheduled for today.

Authorities say the basketball player was carrying two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife while speeding on his motorcycle on the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County in September.

In other Cavs news, their attempt to sign free agent Kyle Lowry was rebuffed when Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said he planned to match Cleveland's offer sheet to the guard from Villanova. Houston had 1 week to match Cleveland's package - a 3-year, $24 million deal with a fourth option year.

* Free-agent sharpshooter Mike Miller arrived in South Florida and told Memphis radio station WHBQ that he would sign a 5-year contract with the Miami Heat by his scheduled departure today. The 6-8 Miller shot a career-best 48 percent from three-point range last season with Washington. In 10 NBA seasons, Miller has averaged 13.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.

* Golden State's top draft pick, Ekpe Udoh, will miss 6 months after undergoing surgery on his injured left wrist. Udoh underwent the operation in San Francisco to repair a torn ligament in his wrist. He will have his wrist immobilized for about 10 weeks. Udoh injured the wrist at a supervised workout earlier this month. He was selected sixth overall.

* Phoenix acquired swingman Josh Childress in a sign-and-trade deal that sent a 2012 second-round draft pick to Atlanta. Childress, who played in Greece the last two seasons, agreed to a 5-year contract. Childress, the sixth overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, had four seasons as the sixth man for the Hawks.

Also, the Suns finalized a trade for Hedo Turkoglu that sent Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones to the Toronto Raptors.

* Free-agent point guard Luke Ridnour agreed to a 4-year, $16 million deal with Minnesota, a source told the Associated Press. Ridnour averaged 10.4 points and 4.0 assists in Milwaukee.

* Free-agent power forward Al Harrington says he's headed to the Denver Nuggets. Harrington, a 6-9 forward, averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for the New York Knicks last season.

* Charlotte came to terms with point guard Shaun Livingston.

* The agent for Luther Head says his client is healthy and the New Orleans Hornets have not offered a reasonable explanation for why they rescinded a 2-year contract offer for the veteran guard.

* The Indiana Pacers have chosen Clark Kellogg as vice president for player relations.