Players association executive Billy Hunter told reporters after meetings with NBA owners ended today that he “advised (players) they may have to sit out half the season before we get a deal.” No further talks are scheduled. Players representatives, including Lakers guard Derek Fisher, met with owners for several hours in New York. There had been some optimism going into the meeting, but it’s evidently back to square one for the two sides. Training camps were set to open Oct. 3, but it’s looking like that day will come and go without a resolution to the lockout, which began July 1.

Said Fisher: “We’re not marching towards a deal at this time or at any time we can predict. We can’t come out of here thinking that training camps and preseason (games) are going to start on time at this point.”