While Players Try to Win Crown, Negotiators Try to Avoid Lockout

Trying to avoid a lockout that could start as early as Thursday, NBA owners and players met again Tuesday.

The two sides had returned to the bargaining table Monday, the same day it was reported the league intended to lock out its players after the finals if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached by then.

Simon Gourdine, executive director of the players association, and union president Buck Williams of the Portland Trail Blazers, continued talks Tuesday with NBA Commissioner David Stern and his deputy, Russ Granik. They met for eight hours Monday.

The New York Times reported the negotiations will end in one of three ways: A summer lockout will take place; if the talks progress, a moratorium on signing free agents and adjusting contracts, which has been in effect all season, will be extended; or an agreement will be reached, a possibility that is considered highly unlikely.