The stakes and the parameters have changed since the parties last met. The players dissolved their union Nov. 14 and sued the N.B.A. on antitrust grounds the next day. Technically, the parties are now in settlement talks, not collective bargaining negotiations. The union will have to be reconstituted to adopt any new labor deal.

The resumption in talks was first reported by Yahoo Sports early Wednesday afternoon. The first official confirmation came Wednesday evening in a statement from the law firm representing the players in their antitrust suit. According to the statement, issued by the lawyer Jonathan Schiller, “preliminary settlement discussions” will be held “immediately after Thanksgiving.”

An N.B.A. spokesman declined comment, other than saying that the league “remains in favor of a negotiated resolution.”

In the context of a lawsuit settlement, the lawyers for both sides are technically in the lead now. It is presumed, however, that both Commissioner David Stern and Billy Hunter, the longtime head of the players association, are involved. Derek Fisher, who was the union’s president until it dissolved, has not been involved yet but is expected to rejoin the fray on Friday.

There is also a new face at the table: Jim Quinn, the union’s former chief outside counsel, who is now playing a pivotal role in this desperate final push. Quinn worked with the union on labor deals for 20 years and has strong relationships with Stern and Hunter.

Quinn’s involvement was first reported Tuesday by CBSSports.com, which characterized his role as a neutral “facilitator.” In fact, Quinn was recently hired by Hunter to help complete the deal, according to a person who has spoken with Quinn. It appears that Quinn may have supplanted Jeff Kessler, the union’s pugnacious outside counsel, as the players’ lead negotiator.

Kessler has a contentious relationship with Stern and is viewed by some on the owners’ side as an impediment to a deal.