David Stern, Derek Fisher Agree: NBA, Union 'Far Apart' In Labor Talks

Read More: Derek Fisher (G - OKC)

The NBA and its players' union are meeting reguarly to hash out a new collective bargaining agreement before July 1, when a lockout could begin. While that's a positive step, no one is getting the circumstances twisted, as both NBA commissioner David Stern and union head Derek Fisher told the media after Wednesday's bargaining session that the two sides are "far apart" on major issues.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that Stern said "we're apart on everything, despite both sides having moved." Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times quoted Fisher as saying, ""We still feel that we're very far apart in some of the major components." That's a bit bleak.

The major issues are considered to be the current soft salary cap vs. a hard one, the share of revenue players should claim and how "guaranteed" contracts should be. These are no small issues, and remain a sobering coda as the sides try to hammer something out.