NBA Lockout Talks To Resume Friday: Hope Springs Eternal

After just seven and a half hours on Thursday, the NBA lockout meetings came to a close in New York, but it wasn't due to either side breaking off negotiations. Instead, after a long day on Wednesday, the two sides will regroup and get back at it on Friday, and both seem to be hopefully a deal is in the works. While the BRI split has yet to be discussed, all signs are pointing towards progress being made on the rest of the system issues.

Billy Hunter took on a different tone to close his press conference, perhaps hinting at some of the more positive aspects of the negotiations.

Billy Hunter's press conference signoff: "Commissioner Stern's back there smiling. I guess that's a good indication."

And there was this from Adrian Wojnarowksi.

David Stern standing in back of union's news conference, trading laughs with Hunter at podium. That's a first.

It does seem as though the NBA and players' union are both in good spirits after the marathon talks this week in New York. Whether it will result in a deal in the next few days remains to be seen, but these are the most encouraging signs we've seen during the drawn-out labor struggle yet.