SAN ANTONIO ? David Stern hasn’t yet made his best offer on a new collective-bargaining agreement. But once he does, it won’t be on the table long.

The commissioner addressed almost nothing aside from labor questions Sunday at his annual NBA Finals news conference, revealing several areas where the owners already have altered their offer.

Speaking matter-of-factly and exuding little of the pessimism favored by deputy commissioner Russ Granik, Stern said the owners did not want a lockout and were trying to avoid one. But he made it clear that if no deal is in place before the current one expires on June 30, the league will shut down.

And if that happens, the owners will pull their current offer off the table permanently.

“If July 1 comes and there is a lockout, the union will have made a mistake of epic proportions,” Stern said.

“If we can’t get a deal done, it’ll be a new game.”