Hunter: 'Hopeful' new CBA deal can be reached - CBSSports.com

Billy Hunter emerged from a four-hour bargaining session among NBA players and owners Wednesday and proclaimed that he was "hopeful" that a deal could be reached to avert a lockout before the collective bargaining agreement expires on June 30. 

Reading the article, it sounds like the two sides have at least softened their former hard-line stances and are working on actual negotiations - which is always good. But the same kinds of things were heard out of the NFL talks before things went downhill fast, so I'll believe it when I see it.  Still, this seems like progress.