Both the NBA and the players understand that the time to reach a settlement is here.  But time may be running out, even if the remaining differences to bridge are not large.

"Everyone on both sides realizes it's settlement time," said a source frequently in communication with negotiators.

The threat of a huge antitrust award against the NBA in favor of the players -- as much as $6 billion -- has served to moderate some of the owners' positions, but it may be hardening the hard-liners.

"According to people involved in the process on both sides," writes Ken Berger, "there is a common realization that this is the week a deal must come together to fulfill the league's desire to start the season by Christmas. And despite the lack of official communication between the parties and some obstacles that grew out of the players' antitrust actions, sources maintain that the framework of a settlement could be reached quickly once the dialogue progressed from the back channels to the formal stages."

Billy Hunter's hands may be tied as far as initiating contact with the NBA, since that would bolster the league's claims that the union's disclaimer of interest was merely a sham bargaining tactic.