NEW YORK – The NBA's locked-out referees could be back on the floor in time for the regular season.

The league has made a new proposal, and a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press it will be recommended for approval to the referees on Friday. The person, who requested anonymity because the negotiations are ongoing, said it's "highly likely" they'll be on the court before next Tuesday's season opener in Cleveland.

The breakthrough in the labor dispute came Tuesday, after a meeting between commissioner David Stern and referees union negotiator Lamell McMorris – who had both previously withdrawn from the process.

Neither the NBA nor the National Basketball Referees Association would comment on the progress in the talks.

Bobcats' Bell could need surgery: Charlotte starting shooting guard Raja Bell has a partially torn ligament in his left wrist and will soon decide whether to have surgery that would sideline him up to four months.

Bell was injured when his wrist bent awkwardly as he tried to grab a loose ball in Sunday's game against Utah.

"The way I understand it, surgery would be 6-8 [weeks] in a cast with pins and then 6-8 [weeks] worth of rehab," Bell said.

There's a chance Bell could play through the injury by going through a rigorous treatment process, but Bell said he won't decide until he gets a second opinion.