Collective bargaining talks to resume later this month

NEW YORK -- Preliminary collective bargaining talks between NBA owners and players have ended for now, with the sides anticipating another meeting later this month, a union spokesman said Wednesday.

Players and owners met for about three hours Wednesday at a Manhattan hotel. They met for a similar amount of time Tuesday.

"We anticipate reconvening again by the end of the month," union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

The current six-year collective bargaining agreement expires at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season, although the owners have an option to extend it through 2004-05. That option must be exercised by Dec. 15.

Among the owners at Wednesday's meeting were Miami's Mickey Arison and Lewis Katz of New Jersey. Player representatives included Etan Thomas of Washington of P.J. Brown of New Orleans.

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