Dave Checketts, former president of the Jazz and Knicks, said on ESPN 700 in Salt Lake City that he hears the players and owners have reached agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. Checketts was recently hired as a consultant to Tom Gores, new owner of the Pistons. Checketts is known as being very close to David Stern. Newsday's Alan Hahn, reporting from where labor talks are ongoing, says a deal has not been struck from what he has heard. A source tells Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick that a deal has not been reached, but reasons for optimism continues.