Silver: Hire More Women Leaders

Workplace Conditions A Concern

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants all teams to hire more women, especially in leadership and supervisory positions, and is urging them to take some of the mandates that the Dallas Mavericks must now adhere to as an impetus to improve working conditions within their own organizations.

Silver, in a memo sent to all teams Friday and obtained by The Associated Press, also asked teams to thoroughly review the report that was released earlier this week about the Mavericks. The league stopped short of flatly ordering the 29 other clubs to institute new policies, though Silver’s wishes were very clear.

“Use this opportunity to make changes and create a dialogue within your organizations about workplace policies, procedures and respectful conduct,” Silver wrote.

The league asked clubs to have what they are calling “Community Conversations” with employees within the next two weeks about the investigation and subsequent report about the Mavericks. Dallas owner Mark Cuban announced Wednesday — when the report was rel eased following a months-long probe that began after problems were detailed in a Sports Illustrated article in February — that he will contribute $10 million to help further the cause of women in sports and raise awareness about domestic violence.

Cuban was not personally involved in any of the incidents of sexual harassment and improper workplace conduct within the Mavericks’ organization. The investigation made clear that others within the organization were allowing an environment in which workplace misconduct was rampant.

The league urged teams to consider making more than a dozen changes, including:

Increasing the number of female staff, including in leadership and supervisory positions.

Better harassment-reporting procedures for victims of misconduct.

Additional commitments to ensuring that harassment is eliminated and diversity is improved.

Anonymous workplace culture surveys of employees.

Stronger human-resource departments.

Sexual harassment training, with special training for managers and supervisors.

Having general counsel employed in-house.

Rules changes

The shot clock will be reset to 14 seconds after offensive rebounds next season, down from 24, and the NBA has made alterations to two other rules.

The clear-path foul was simplified and the definition of a hostile act expanded for purposes of triggering an instant replay review.

The changes were approved unanimously by NBA owners Friday.