Carmelo Anthony Comments on NBA CBA Negotiations

For weeks, it's been assumed the NBA and NBA Players Association would reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement before the Dec. 15 opt-out date.  

However, talks appear to have stalled suddenly after optimism reportedly permeated discussions earlier in the season. 

Speaking to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne, New York Knicks forward and NBPA vice president Carmelo Anthony disclosed that a deal may not be reached by the opt-out date.

"I'm skeptical of something getting done," he said. "Do I think something could happen by the 15th? Yeah I think something could happen. But I think this kind of put a dent in conversations."

Anthony added: "We had something so close. We were supposed to have a deal done weeks ago, and for this to happen at the 25th hour is tough."

The 32-year-old told Shelburne the players "want to get a deal done," but undisclosed holdups are preventing the two sides from striking an accord. 

Bleacher Report's Howard Beck tweeted Saturday, saying, "There's long been assumption that if talks progressing, NBA/NBPA could simply agree to extend deadline beyond Dec. 15. Theory may be tested."

Responding to that note, Shelburne reported Anthony said "countless hours and meetings over the next couple of days" would need to be held in order for the deadline to be extended. 

On Nov. 28, NBA.com's David Aldridge reported "a new deal is likely to be agreed upon, if not formally ratified, in the next few weeks."

Speaking at the NBA's board of governors meeting in October, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver broke down why there was optimism a deal would be hammered out, per Aldridge: 

"

The fortunes of the league, the fact that there is more money to distribute among our players and teams, has created an atmosphere that makes it more conducive to continue a deal that looks a lot like the current deal. I think there is a sense across the table that we have a system that we both fought hard for in the last round of collective bargaining that for the most part is working pretty well.

"

While a failure to reach an agreement by Thursday's deadline would not make a labor stoppage a certainty, it would increase tensions across the league with loads of money at stake on both sides of the equation.