New York, NY

The NBA Players Association will attack the validity of the NBA's new policy on flopping by filing a grievance and unfair labor practice charge against the league, Players union executive director Billy Hunter said Wednesday.

Hunter said the NBA is not allowed to unilaterally implement new economic policy without getting a bargaining agreement with the players union.

"We believe that any monetary penalty for an act of this type is inappropriate and without precedent in our sport or any other sport, Hunter told ESPN. We will bring appropriate legal action to challenge what is clearly a vague and arbitrary overreaction and overreach by the Commissioner's office."

According to a reliable league insider, union executives and the league officials had several meetings to decide over the issue of implementing rules against flopping but the two parties could not agree on the structure of the program and the size of the punishment. Hunter said the penalties on flopping are too harsh.

The NBA announced Wednesday their new policy against players flopping to draw offensive fouls during games.

Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson said players caught flopping for the first time will be given a warning, $5,000 fine for a second violation, $10,000 for a third offense, $15,000 for a fourth, and $30,000 for fifth time. Flopping for six times or more could lead to suspensions.

The NBA says it's finally going to do something about the bad actors in the league -- not off the court, but during games. The league has plans to get rid of the "floppers." Len Berman says other sports deal with the problem, and now it's the NBA's turn to shine the klieg lights on the Oscar pretenders

Copyright © 2012 AHN. All rights reserved