On Friday, David Stern offered some optimistic notes about the prospect of resolving the league's labor dispute with its players.

"We know we're going to get an agreement done," the commissioner said about completing a new collective bargaining agreement with the players union.

In reference to Billy Hunter's strong response to the league's stated desire to cut player salaries by one third, Stern said, "Classic negotiating rhetoric, probably on both sides."

Stern seemed to downplay the possibility of contracting whole franchises to solve the league's financial problems.

He said the NBA is "not spending a lot of time" on the subject of contraction but it "has to be discussed."

Stern thinks the NBA will thrive this season.

"I think we're going to have perhaps our best season ever this year," the commissioner said.