Many legal experts agree that the outcome of the NFL's ongoing four-month lockout and legal battle will have a dramatic effect on NBA labor negotiations.

After the NFL locked out the players, the NFLPA voted to de-certify themselves, going from a union to a trade association and filing an anti-trust suit against the owners. Minnesota federal judge Susan Nelson ruled to end the lockout in April, but the US 8th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed her decision while they considered the NFL's appeal.

They are expected to make a ruling soon, which could impact whether the NBAPA follows the same path as their football-playing brethren.