The NBA and NBPA will begin negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement in November. 

Michele Roberts has been meeting monthly for lunch with Adam Silver.

"We are about to launch into substantive CBA discussions," Roberts said. "Hopefully, the good faith that we look forward to bringing into the discussions will continue. I cannot complain. I have not found [Silver] on the surface to be anything but quite earnest."

The NBA's new nine-year, $24 billion media rights deal with ESPN and Turner Sports will dramatically increase player salaries and revenues for owners.

Silver "says he does not want a work stoppage," Roberts said. "And I said, 'You know what, neither do we.' We have that common ground. … I wasn't there, but I've been told and I read, that during the last negotiations that the owners were very clear that there would be a substantial reduction modification of the [basketball-related income]. I guess they were serious because they locked the players out before they got what they wanted. That's not how we are beginning these negotiations.

"I've not been given what is essentially an ultimatum from the owners, nor have we gone to the owners with an ultimatum. That is not where we view where we are right now. And so that gives me reason to think that no one is saying, 'Look we need this or we walk, or I need this or we lock you out.' We're starting at a place where we are not going to be strident about things."

Silver, however, also said in the offseason that there are NBA teams still losing money.

"I'm assuming that is information given to him by owners," Roberts said. "I don't think he's making it up. That's information that is conveyed to him. I don't know that he believes it. I assume he does because he said [it]. I don't believe it.

"And what I mean to say is I don't want to say people are lying. … It may be that [teams] didn't have a positive [financial result]. But to say that therefore that the value of their franchise is in anyway diminished is a different question. C'mon, this game is exploding in terms of popularity and revenue."