NBA report: LeBron James questionable for Cavaliers opener

The season opener is four days away and there are doubts James will be ready.

He still isn’t practicing because of a troublesome back and there’s no guarantee he’ll be on the floor when the Cavaliers begin their quest for an NBA title on Tuesday in Chicago.

The four-time MVP received an anti-inflammatory injection in his back on Oct. 13, but hasn’t practiced since as he hasn’t been cleared by Cleveland’s medical and training staffs.

James, who played in just two of Cleveland’s seven preseason games, said Friday that he’s not positive he’ll be on the floor against the Bulls.

“If everything goes right,” he said. “We feel like we’re progressing really well and if we can continue to do that, then I’m optimistic that I’ll be able to go.”

State of the NBA

Commissioner Adam Silver is optimistic about the NBA’s health and relationship with its players, offering hope that the league can avoid another lockout in 2017.

Silver also said Friday he expects the league will reduce the number of preseason games, though doesn’t know how many would be played. The schedule currently allows for a maximum of eight per team.

Owners wrapped up two days of their annual preseason meetings before Silver held a news conference Friday. They are expecting an enormous influx of revenues next year with the beginning of the new national TV deals, valued at about $2.6 billion.

Either side could opt out of the collective bargaining agreement in 2017, six years after it was approved following a work stoppage. The 82-game schedule was reduced to 66 games during that 2011-12 season, but the league and players association are trying to avoid another interruption so soon.

“I remain optimistic in a general way just because I think things are going so well for the teams and the players,” Silver said.

Also, Silver said the league’s position on daily fantasy sites “hasn’t changed” and that owners were given an update on the state of the industry. The NBA has a small stake in Fan Duel and several teams have relationships with Draft Kings.

Silver said the league is looking into the altercation between Knicks Coach Derek Fisher and Memphis forward Matt Barnes but didn’t have any timetable for deciding on punishment.

Green fined

Miami Heat guard Gerald Green was fined $25,000 by the NBA for making menacing gestures in an exhibition game. The incidents occurred in Miami’s 110-105 victory over Washington on Wednesday night. Green used his fingers as guns and made a throat-cutting gesture.