Report: David Stern, Billy Hunter Meeting 1-on-1

The Commish and the Players Association prez have reportedly been meeting face-to-face to try and hammer out a new CBA: “NBA commissioner David Stern and National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter have been meeting face-to-face to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, sources close to the talks told ESPN.com on Tuesday. The sources said the sides met last week in Chicago with staffers from both sides present. The two sides are also set to talk this week in New York, according to the sources. The existing CBA expires June 30, after which, absent a new deal, NBA owner have promised to lock out the players. Hunter and Stern negotiated deals in 1999 and 2005. In past negotiations between the two, face-to-face talks have not always led to significant progress, but there has never been big progress without such high-level meetings. Against a backdrop of labor strife and ongoing legal action in the NFL, representatives of the NBA and the players’ association have recently softened their public rhetoric. Union officials have called the NFL players’ tactic of taking the argument to the courts a last resort, while the league has made clear they are open to input from the union.”