NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter has been quoted as saying he's "99 percent sure" a lockout will take place after the collective bargain agreement expires on June 30.

Longtime commissioner David Stern insists the league's finances have reached the point of critical mass, and that there's no turning back in his and the owners' desire to drastically reduce player salaries by as much as $800 million, according to published reports.

In fact, the league has stated it wants to cut salaries by up to 38 percent.