NBA notebook: Union disputes figures from NBA

NEW YORK — Insisting that the NBA's financial projections "strain credulity," players' association executive director Billy Hunter said Wednesday he's 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.

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 expenses were up, too.

HORNETS, HEAD DISAGREE: The agent for Luther Head said Wednesday that his client is healthy and that the New Orleans Hornets have not offered a reasonable explanation for why they rescinded a two-year contract offer. Mark Bartelstein said the Hornets informed him not long after general manager Jeff Bower had stepped down on Tuesday that Head, who played for the Indiana Pacers last season, had failed a physical.

ROCKETS RETAIN LOWRY: The Cavaliers have been rejected again. The team's attempt to sign free agent Kyle Lowry was rebuffed Wednesday when the Houston Rockets matched Cleveland's offer sheet to the veteran point guard. Cleveland's package was a three-year, $24 million deal with a fourth option year, but Rockets general manager Daryl Morey wasted no time in making a counteroffer.

TURKOGLU, CHILDRESS NOW SUNS: The Phoenix Suns have acquired forward Hedo Turkoglu in a trade that sends guard Leandro Barbosa and forward Dwayne Jones to Toronto.

The deal gives the Suns a third forward in their attempt to replace free agent Amare Stoudemire. Phoenix signed swingman Josh Childress in a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta earlier Wednesday and picked up Hakim Warrick in similar swap with Chicago.