NBA and NBPA Begin Discussions on Next Collective Bargaining Agreement

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association met Tuesday to start an early conversation on a new collective bargaining agreement, per Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears.

Both NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver were present at the meeting "that included constructive dialogue, and [both parties] agreed to continue [their] discussions," according to a statement provided by the league.     

The NBPA or NBA can opt out of the current CBA in 2017, and Roberts confirmed to Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops the players plan to exercise that option. The Associated Press' Brian Mahoney put Tuesday's news in perspective regarding that possible opt-out:

Sportando's E. Carchia translated an interview Roberts gave to Davide Chinellato of Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport in February. In the Q&A session, Roberts revealed the rough target for when she and the NBA hope to have a new CBA.

"Both Commissioner Silver and myself want to do everything possible to prevent the NBA to stop: The only way is to negotiate," she said. "We have already started, we will meet again in early September with the hope to announce within the end of the season that the union and the league have solved their problems."

With the NBA's revenue skyrocketing as a result of its massive television deal, money will likely be the most contentious issue between players and owners when they head to the negotiating table.

Roberts has shown she won't be afraid to go head-to-head with the league and its owners, famously saying, "My past is littered with the bones of men who were foolish enough to think I was someone they could sleep on," per Andrew Keh of the New York Times.

It's still too early to worry about another NBA lockout, but fans will want to continue seeing positive steps made with regard to a new CBA.