I think the owners and commissioner will make concessions only if the game becomes more entertaining. They have accumulated so much leverage through metrics and exploiting the controlled period of a player's career. The result is that the players are younger and contracts are shorter. This, in turn, has led to fewer balls in play and imo, a less enjoyable product. I think the players will need a work stoppage of some length but it's difficult to imagine much concession unless the owners are convinced the sport is in trouble.