Report: NBA angling for deal to shut down season

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As the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic grows, the NBA may be recognizing there's no way to resume the 2019-20 season.

Nearly a week after reports of discussions about playing the postseason in a quarantined environment surfaced, ESPN's Brian Windhorst says the league's tone may have changed.

"Talks between the players' union and the league this week - I've talked to both sides of this issue and it is clear that the NBA is angling to set up a deal that enables them to shut the season down," Windhorst said.

"Now they don't have to do that yet, and the way they're negotiating, they're leaving themselves an option either way, but they are not having talks about how to restart the league," he continued. "They are having financial talks about what would happen if the season shuts down. I think there's a significant amount of pessimism right now."

Windhorst cited what happened in China, where the Chinese Basketball Association planned to resume its season after the initial impact of COVID-19, only to postpone it again due to fears of a second wave.

"I think there was optimism about progress a week ago, and some things have happened this week that have turned it south," he said.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley said Friday that he believes the NBA won't make a call to cancel the season until at least June 1.

Either way, the financial impact on the league is noteworthy. On Friday, it was reported the NBA asked players to take a 50% pay cut beginning this month. The NBPA reportedly countered with a 25% reduction next month. The withheld money would be placed in escrow.