NBA, players to meet next week

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NEW YORK (AP) — People with knowledge of the plans say the NBA and

players’ association will meet next week, fitting in a bargaining

session before the Labor Day holiday weekend.

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The session will include top negotiators for both sides:

Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, and

union executive director Billy Hunter and president Derek Fisher of

the Lakers.

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Others might attend, but the meeting is expected to be small, the

people told The Associated Press on Thursday. They spoke on

condition of anonymity because details of the meeting are supposed

to remain confidential.

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It will be only the second meeting involving both sides’ top

leadership since the lockout started July 1. Stern has said it is

important to make progress by Labor Day.

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