NBPA's Michele Roberts 'optimistic' league will avoid lockout

While a deal is far from certain, it's appearing more likely that NBA owners and players will successfully reach a new CBA agreement prior to this year's opt-out deadline.

Following a series of positive meetings with commissioner Adam Silver, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts is now confident that a new deal will be reached in the coming months.

"I’ve heard Adam proclaim his optimism," Roberts told the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn. "I’ve proclaimed mine, so I would like to sooner rather than later be able to have a press conference where we both stand together and announce together that we have a deal and there will be no work stoppage. There will be no lockout. Having said that, I gotta be ready for anything. But I am optimistic."

Related: Silver 'extraordinarily optimistic' NBA will avoid labor stoppage

Both sides have until December 15, 2016 to opt out of the current CBA agreement, marking the halfway point of the 10-year deal signed back in 2011.

"Nothing is certain but I cannot imagine that if we don’t have an agreement on Dec. 14 and the opt-out deadline is Dec. 15, 2016, if that’s where I find myself, I think it’s probably a safe bet that we would opt out," Roberts said. "I think it’s probably a safe bet that the league would. We want a deal. We don’t want to play the opt-out game. We want a deal.’"

Roberts told Washburn that there has been progress on a new agreement, and while she couldn't discuss details, she praised Silver for his professionalism during the negotiations.

"I can’t [discuss the talks] because I promised [not to]," Roberts added. "I’m not going to be too terribly substantive but I will say I do believe and [Commissioner] Adam [Silver], I hope he agrees, he and I continue to maintain a civil relationship. I actually like him. I think that he’s a pro."