During a Wednesday interview on WFAN in New York, Billy Hunter announced that the NBA league office and the players union have agreed to meet with a federal mediator next Monday, to help them resolve a lockout that has already led to the cancellation of two weeks of regular season games.

In the interview, Hunter said he thinks that the owners are likely to want to end the lockout no later than Christmas.  But he also expressed the view that the NBA is seeking to break up the union in order to get its way on every issue.