NEW YORK -- With the threat of another NBA lockout looming in 2017, commissioner Adam Silver on Friday painted an optimistic picture about recent informal dialogue between the league and the National Basketball Players Association.
"I think we have as good a relationship as we've ever had with the players association," Silver said after the league's Board of Governors meeting in Manhattan.
"I'm extremely optimistic about the state of the league. I think in terms of the financial health of the league and our current collective bargaining system, that's what we talked about with our owners and I've had those same discussions with Michele [Roberts, the union's executive director] and her colleagues."
The players may seek to negotiate a larger percentage of league income after the NBA's new $24 billion TV deal with ESPN and Turner Broadcasting kicks in for the 2016-17 season.
If the NBA pushes back on this issue or others that may arise, some fear it will lead to a lockout in the summer of 2017.
Silver, though, emphasized Friday that casual talks between the league and union have gone well to date. Owners and players have until Dec. 15, 2016, to give notice that they want to opt out of the current agreement.
"I think there is reason to be optimistic," Silver said. "We are in the process of developing a personal relationship, which I would say is the predicate for any constructive negotiation."
Silver also emphasized several times on Friday that the league will be diligent with sharing financial information with the players association, which had been an issue raised by Roberts in the past.
"The necessary first step is a full sharing of information about the state of the league, the state of financials, the impact of the new television money that's going to come in next season at the beginning of our television deals," Silver said. "We haven't engaged in any real intensive way on issues around the collective bargaining agreement yet, but I remain optimistic in a general way because I think things are going so well for the teams and the players."
Silver also confirmed that the NBA is investigating the physical altercation between Memphis Grizzlies veteran Matt Barnes and New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher earlier this month.
"I don't have a timeframe [on any possible punishment], and we are looking into it," Silver said.
The commissioner added that the league is examining ways to shorten the preseason and increase the number of days in the regular season, thereby giving players more in-season rest.
"What we've concluded so far is that the critical issue is fatigue, not necessarily the number of games that are played," Silver said. " ... In ongoing discussions with the union, it's less about necessarily reducing the number of games in the regular season but maybe spreading the schedule out a little bit more to create more rest. We're open minded on it."
Lastly, the commissioner reiterated that the NBA is committed to its relationship with the daily fantasy site FanDuel. In an interview with ESPN's Outside the Lines earlier this week, Silver called for federal regulation of daily fantasy operators.
The Daily Fantasy industry has been subject to federal investigations and public questioning over whether the games are legal under current gambling law.
"I continue to view it as a positive," Silver said, adding that the alternative is "this massive, underground, illegal sports betting industry."
