(David) Stern did address the issue of time passing, a deal not done and regular-season openers scheduled for Nov. 1. Based in part on the events of the 1998-99 lockout that produced a shortened 50-game season, one month’s lead time is considered about the least the NBA can manage in going from a handshake CBA agreement to the start of any season.

“We agreed that once we start to lose them and players lose paychecks and owners lose money, positions on both sides will start to harden,” Stern said. “Everybody on both sides agrees that this is the time to do it.”

via Steve Aschburner of NBA.com