Toronto Raptors Larry Tanenbaum

HAWK: The same owners weathered an NHL lockout, and in Canada hockey is the national religion. This is nothing compared to that.

The Raptors have a very good local revenues, which would make them payers in most systems, so aggressive revenue sharing is not their favorite idea.

The way the NBA tells it, all 30 owners are perfectly united, on every issue from hard caps to revenue sharing.

Of course, it cannot be so. Human nature dictates some owners are doves -- eager to play the upcoming season -- while others are hawks who would risk ditching a season in the name of a new collective bargaining agreement that strongly favors owners.

Owners have influence over the CBA negotiations by being in the ear of the NBA's representatives in the talks, primarily NBA commissioner David Stern, deputy commissioner Adam Silver and Spurs owner Peter Holt.

They also have to vote to approve the final deal.  (comp story here)