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Monday, NBA Commissioner David Stern said he was "optimistic" the league and Players Association would work out a deal that would pave the way toward turning the National Basketball Developmental League (NBDL) into a true minor league.

What does it mean for the NBA and current collective bargaining talks? ESPN Insider Chad Ford has the answers.

Q: Exactly how would a NBA minor league work?

A: The NBA plans to expand the NBDL to 15 teams. Two NBA teams would share one NBDL team. They would be allowed to send young players (the current proposal stipulates only players with three years or less of NBA experience) to the minor league and call them up again whenever there they were ready.

NBA teams likely would send down their own coaches, trainers, etc., to monitor the progress of their young players.

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