Adam Silver and Michele Roberts have been meeting regularly as they work on building their relationship and trust.

Both the owners and players have the ability to opt out of the current CBA by Dec. 15th.

Silver said "clearly we’re operating under the premise that if we can’t get a new deal negotiated by then, they are likely to opt out. That puts a lot of pressure on both sides to work over the next 10 months, which is a long time, to get an extension done."

Silver has expressed optimism of a deal being reached.

“My cause for optimism is based on to me the spirit of the discussions and the directness in which we’ve been dealing with each other,” Silver said.