David Stern said "nothing" gave him reason for encouragement after a meeting that lasted just under two hours between owners and players. The meeting was the first substantial dialogue since the lockout began.

"I don't feel optimistic about the players' willingness to engage in a serious way," Stern said. 

Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver were joined by San Antonio owner Peter Holt, who heads the labor relations committee, and Board of Governors chairman and Minnesota owner Glen Taylor represented ownership. 

Players' association Executive Director Billy Hunter, and President Derek Fisher and Vice President Theo Ratliff attended along with union attorneys. 

"It's a tough position to be in," Fisher said. "I think Peter, Glen Taylor, Commissioner Stern, Adam Silver are articulating certain things in the room, expressing their desire to get a deal done, but where their proposal lies makes it hard to believe that. 

"So we're continuing to try to work around what's been said and really focus on the deal on the table, and right now we're still a very, very long way from getting a deal done." 

Fisher said the sides would try to meet at least two or three more times in August.