Is Fisher in Stern's back pocket?

This is opinion: The latest NBA lockout stalemate is all about the basketball-related-income (BRI) split. The owners want 50-50. The players want 52-48.

This is fact: The belief that NBA Players Association president Derek Fisher has been co-opted by commissioner David Stern — and promised the commish he could deliver the union at 50-50 — caused NBPA executive director Billy Hunter and at least one member of the union’s executive committee to confront Fisher on Friday morning and make him reassess his 50-50 push, a source familiar with the negotiations told FOXSports.com Friday afternoon.

A veteran NBA player familiar with the negotiations characterized the concerns about Fisher’s allegiance as similar to the concerns about Michael Curry in 2005, the year of the league’s last collective-bargaining agreement.

Curry, an 11-year NBA player who earned about $15 million for his career, was the union’s player president from July 2001 through late June 2005. At age 36, he played 18 games for the Indiana Pacers during the 2004-05 season, his last season. The NBA and the union agreed in principle on the now-expired labor deal on June 21, 2005. A week later, Michael Curry stepped down as the union’s president. On Sept. 8, 2005, David Stern announced that his alleged former labor-agreement adversary would be vice president, player development for the NBA Development League.

“Michael has always expressed an interest in helping to develop young players whose potential has yet to be realized,” Stern stated in a 2005 release. “His personal experience in development leagues and ultimately as a valued NBA veteran, makes him a perfect fit to contribute to the mission of the D-League.”
(...)
According to my source, at least one five-time champion, NBA superstar with the initials K.B. was on board with Fisher’s push for a 50-50 split. Hunter is firm that the players should not accept less than 52-48. According to my source, Hunter and a member of the executive committee convinced Fisher to stand firm at 52-48 after they questioned the Lakers point guard about his relationship with Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver.

According to reports, Hunter ended Friday's negotiating session, telling Stern the union would not budge on 52-48.

It has been my belief throughout this process that Fisher is the wrong person to be the president of the union. He has earned a substantial amount of money from playing in the NBA. But not enough that he can’t be influenced and baited by the NBA establishment.