NBA Lockout: End of Lockout Imminent, Start of Season in Sight

Doomsday scenarios have been painted, pessimism has run rampant, and despite it all, it's looking very much like the NBA lockout will finally be lifted in the coming days.

The words that fans have been waiting to hear: it's looking like we'll have an NBA season.

The two sides are not done negotiating and there are still sizable issues that need to be tackled before either party will admit that a season is on the horizon, but there were very important takeaways coming from both sides last night that we haven't heard prior.

Commissioner David Stern said that it would be a failure if the two sides were unable to hammer out a deal in the next few days saying,

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There’s no guarantee that we’re going to get a deal done but we’re going to give it a heck of a shot.

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Echoing Stern's sentiment, NBPA Executive Director Billy Hunter also believes that a deal can be reached in the very near future.

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I think we’re within reach (on system issues), within striking distance of getting a deal.

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While fans should certainly be excited about the obvious progress that has been made, there is still a chance that talks could go south once again when the outstanding hurdles at the negotiating table finally become the subject of discussion.

The meat and potatoes of the negotiations has been BRI (Basketball-Related Income) and that is the first thing on the docket to be discussed on Friday.

Each BRI percentage point represents roughly $40 million, which is why both sides have had its heels dug into the ground on the current position.

It has been believed that once the "system issues" had been more thoroughly sorted that a potential BRI split might fall into place, but it's just not that easy.

An extended meeting on Friday (set to kick off at 10:30 a.m. ET) isn't going to be indicative that progress is being made on the BRI split, as we have seen several meetings last multiple hours only to report little to no measurable progress.

There is no question that this is the most optimism surrounding the work stoppage since it became official in July, but nothing is official until the sides emerge from a meeting shaking hands and stating that a deal has been concocted that pacifies both sides.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports and Howard Beck of the New York Times both gave promising indications that a deal may be close.

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Signs of labor optimism: Team execs cancelling scouting trips, preparing for free agency. Agents quietly reaching out to teams on players.

One hint that NBA is planning for 82-game season: League is asking arenas to hold open dates in late April, acc to arena officials.

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As alluded to previously, that does not mean that anything is concrete or set in stone.

Wojnarowski is confident that an agreement is on the "cusp" of being had and that's going to paint a smile on the faces of fans desperate to see basketball from ear-to-ear.

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Negotiations will resume at 10:30 a.m. ET Friday with talks expected to quickly progress to the proposed revenue split between the league’s owners and players. Both sides sounded optimistic they could soon settle the major issues separating them from a new collective bargaining agreement.

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However, he does caution that there are still items that could impede the announcement that everyone is waiting to hear beyond BRI.

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While details were still unclear how a punitive luxury tax system would work for teams exceeding the salary cap, one league source involved in the talks told Y! Sports on Thursday night: “The tax is not the issue. The exceptions are where the fight is."

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Forget about the ominous threats and pay no attention to the previously fictitious deadlines.

All that matters at this point is getting a deal signed, sealed and delivered in order to preserve the basketball season.