Billy Hunter, director of the NBA Players' Association, was at the Pistons' practice facility Wednesday, updating players on the status of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

"The players are concerned there may be a work stoppage," Hunter said. "That's the last thing they want to see. There may be teams that are struggling in smaller markets. It may be something they can't recover from."

The players are against a hard salary cap.

"We're not at all open to a hard salary cap and we've conveyed that," Hunter said.

Jason Maxiell, the Pistons' player representative, said players are beginning to take precautions with a lockout looming.

"Mainly save your funds, knowing it could be like 1998 (the last NBA lockout)," Maxiell said. "It was tough for (the players) then, and it could be tough for us. As a player you have to be prepared for it."