As late as Sunday evening, commissioner David Stern was asked just before he left for the All-Star game whether he feels good about the progress of the day and said, "I feel good that we’re still talking," a sign of little or no forward movement. Johnson later echoed the sentiments, as did owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. By later Sunday night, after meetings continued with Joel Litvin, the president of league operations, heading the NBA side, the mood felt more upbeat. They hoped to carry that tone into Monday.