NBA, players' union discuss CBA

The NBA and its players' union are getting a jump-start on negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

The two sides sat down to talk CBA on Tuesday, yielding "constructive dialogue" that's expected to continue, the league announced in a statement:

Earlier today the NBA and NBPA met to discuss the Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA"). Meeting participants included NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and representatives of the NBA Labor Relations Committee and NBPA Executive Committee as well as league and union staff. It was a preliminary meeting that included constructive dialogue, and we agreed to continue our discussions.

Both Silver and Roberts have expressed optimism that the league and union can work out a deal and avoid a work stoppage by the end of the 2016-17 season - when both sides can opt out of the current CBA - and this appears to be a good first step. That the lines of communication are open and productive talks are happening at this early stage is a promising sign.

Potentially contentious issues expected to be debated during this round of bargaining include the league's basketball-related income split (roughly 50-50 between owners and players under the current deal), the cap-and-tax salary structure, max contracts, the draft lottery system, and the age minimum, among others.