Music: {allcanada} Report: NBPA interested in NHLPA's Fehr

Monday, February 4, 2013

{allcanada} Report: NBPA interested in NHLPA's Fehr

It appears National Hockey League Players' Association executive director Donald Fehr's name will once again be in the spotlight as the National Basketball Player's Association is reportedly interested in his services.

According to a report from CBSSports, several prominent player agents believe Fehr would be the right man to lead the NBPA.

Last week, the NBA players' union put its executive director Billy Hunter on indefinite leave by an interim executive committee led by union president Derek Fisher, after reports surfaced that the NBPA doubted Hunter's leadership skills and business decisions.

Fehr played an integral role in the recent NHL lockout, which lasted 113 days. The 64-year-old has been with the NHLPA since December 2010 following several decades involved with Major League Baseball. Fehr was executive director of the MLBPA from 1985 to 2009.

"He's the guy," one agent said of Fehr.

Another agent added: "He is somebody who would be formidable. He would go tooth-and-nail on everything."

Four years from now the NBA has the ability to opt out of the current 10-year labour deal, which means there could be another NBA labour dispute as soon as 2017.

The 2011-12 NBA season was cut short due to a lockout when the two sides could not come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Others reportedly being considered for Hunter's replacement are longtime agent Bill Strickland, NFL Players' Association's Richard Berthelsen and former president of Madison Square Garden Sports Steve Mills, plus Fisher is also reportedly interested in the position.