The optimism over the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement that David Stern and Billy Hunter displayed around the time of the All-Star break appears to be fading.

``It certainly has been our goal to get it done as soon as possible. Without putting a date on it, every day we don't have it, in our view, is not a good thing,'' Stern said in his annual pre-playoff conference call with reporters.

One of the main issues is the age limit rule.

``If the age limit were to be raised, the people who were below ... would have an opportunity to play internationally, or in college, or in the minor leagues. We don't see that as a controversy,'' Stern said. ``It means that an 18-year-old would be treated the same way as a 17-year-old.

``If they (the union) and we agree to it, then it can be implemented (for) the draft in 2006,'' Stern said.

The New York Post is reporting that the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been nearly completed, possibly as soon as Saturday, which means that it would be announced prior to the playoffs.

The players will likely have better financial footing with this CBA, while the NBA will likely get their age limit rule.

"There have been no leaks. That's always an infallible indicator that the league and the union understand they have a good thing goin' on and don't want to blow it," said an unnamed source close to the negotiations. "Neither side has tried to put pressure on the other apropos to one issue or another. Nobody has looked to establish leverage in the media. Both sides have been positive, professional and private.

"No issue is isolated," explained the high-ranking member of the negotiating committee. "Everything is discussed in the same breath. You can't thrash out this issue without thrashing out that issue. You know, we provide something here and they provide something there and, in the end, hopefully everything falls into place."