NBA eyeing another delay for 2020 draft
The NBA is targeting Nov. 18 as a new date for the 2020 draft, pending discussions with league owners and general managers in separate meetings on Thursday and Friday, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association negotiated what the memo called a “potential revised 2020 NBA Draft date” as a tentative replacement for Oct. 16. The delay would allow the league and union to negotiate amendments to the collective bargaining agreement and agree on 2020–21 salary cap and luxury tax thresholds.
“Dec. 1, now that we’re working through this season, is feeling a little bit early to me. Our №1 goal is to get fans back in our arenas. My sense is in working with the Players’ Association, if we could push back even a little longer and increase the likelihood of having fans in arenas, that’s what we would do.”
It’s not hard to see why the date is early. The NBA Finals are scheduled to end in early October, which would give some players less than a month and a half of rest before they have to return for training camp. 온라인카지노 Factor in a November draft, and that would mean rookies would have mere weeks between draft day and their NBA debuts.
NBPA executive director Michele Roberts is skeptical of the Dec. 1 date, per ESPN, and the union has reportedly suggested to players the season could start as late as January or February. Free agency, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 18, is also reportedly facing another delay.
The draft was first delayed to Oct. 15 from its original June 25 date due to the coronavirus pandemic. The draft lottery had also been delayed from May 19 to Aug. 25, when the Minnesota Timberwolves took the first pick of a wide-open draft.
The uncertainty surrounding the draft and NBA offseason matches the uncertainty of the №1 pick. Unlike with Zion Williamson last year, there is no consensus on the top talent in this year’s draft, especially with the cancellation of the NCAA postseason this spring.
Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek has Minnesota taking Georgia guard Anthony Edwards first overall, but other players like LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Deni Avdija could be just as deserving.
Following the Timberwolves are the Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
