The proposal the NBA sent to the players' association for a new collective bargaining agreement seeks a reduction in salaries from the league's biggest superstars all the way down to players that haven't even been drafted yet.

A person that has seen the proposed CBA told The Associated Press on Thursday that first-round picks would have their salaries reduced by about one-third and minimum salary players would have their deals cut by about 20 percent.

The total value of a maximum contract for a veteran also would drop below $60 million, which is less than half of what LeBron James could sign for this summer if he opts out of his current deal and re-signs with the Cavaliers.

The person said owners "have made it clear they intend to rein in player costs across the board from every segment of the player population."

Six players who were in the NBA during the previous lockout were asked by Fanhouse their opinion on whether they are expecting another one for the 2011-12 season.

Brad Miller, Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Chauncey Billups believe there most likely will be a lockout in 2011.

"It's very, very possible there's going to be a lockout,'' said Billups. "The only thing I tell guys is, 'Save your money so you'll be able to withstand however long it is.'''

However, due to the faltering economy, Hill sees the owners being even more unified than they were during the previous work stoppage.

"From everything I've been hearing from the players association, it looks like there's a pretty good chance (another lockout) will happen,'' said Hill, a five-year man during the last one. "Looking at the owners' standpoint, I think the difference between now and then is the economy is a lot worse. We were in the booming '90s then and now most of the owners' primary source of income isn't doing quite so well... So I think as unified as the owners were then in terms of holding out until they got what they wanted, it potentially could be worse.''

While the owners look to be more unified, Hill wondered if the same can be said about the players. One of the player victories in 1998-99 was gaining the mid-level exception, which resulted in a good number of veterans going from making minimum salaries of less than $1 million to eventually getting deals for around $5 million annually.

"From the players' standpoint, you had a lot more guys in '98, it was kind of the haves and the have nots,'' Hill said. "You had guys who had big contracts and those who were with the lower class in the world of NBA salaries. So a lot of guys had been journeyman who played for 10 years, and it was more the feeling, 'Let's take over the middle tier.' Now, you have maybe an era of (players) who never went through making minimum wage. It's all relative, but you have guys who all they know is making the middle class and doing well.

"I don't know how willing we are to fight and how prepared we are. (A possible lockout) is very real. It's not just going without a check. It kind of seems like the mindset with the players 12 years ago was, 'Let's fight for this. Let's do what we can.' It's almost now that we aren't aware what we're about to get ourselves into.''