NBA owners have sent an initial proposal to the NBA Players Association and they are pushing for a "hard" salary cap, CBS Sports has learned.
In addition, owners are requesting a drastic reduction in player salaries.
The proposal was sent to the union earlier this week and seeks a reduction in the players' share of basketball-related income from 57 percent to well below 50 percent, according to a report.
Owners also are seeking some aspects of a hard cap -- a departure from the current luxury-tax system -- and a reduction in the length and amount of max contracts.
According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, the two sides will meet during All-Star weekend for their first face-to-face bargaining session as they try to reach an agreement before the current deal expires in 2011.