Critical time as NBA owners, union meet

Officials from the NBA and the players union met for about five hours Thursday in Manhattan. It was the second consecutive day of labor negotiations, and the two sides agreed to meet Tuesday with larger groups in attendance.

"We think it's getting to be an important time, and it's a good idea to have larger group meetings at this point," commissioner David Stern said afterward. "I don't really know that it's positive or negative. I just think it's time to bring the parties into the room who are ultimately responsible for either making a deal or deciding that there shouldn't be a deal."

Players Association president Derek Fisher of the Lakers agreed that the presence of more members from each side on Tuesday would not necessarily be an indication a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement is imminent.

"It doesn't imply that somehow we're on the verge and that's the reason why we're doing it," Fisher said.

Although both sides have been vigilant in not characterizing any of the closed-door negotiations publicly or labeling any idea as a "proposal," deputy commissioner Adam Silver said the presumption that no proposals have been made since June 30 is not true.

"I would say that was never accurate," Silver said.

The sides met only twice during the first two months of the lockout, which began July 1. However, they met once last week and twice this week.

Owners are scheduled to meet in Dallas on Thursday, the day the players association also is scheduled to meet with some of its members in Las Vegas.

NBAPA executive director Billy Hunter did not comment on yesterday's negotiations.

With AP