The NBA is moving toward postponing the draft and the start of free agency due to the likelihood that the beginning of the 2020-21 season will be delayed, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
This year's draft is currently scheduled for Oct. 16, with free agency set to begin two days later. NBA commissioner Adam Silver conceded last week that the league's stated preference to start the 2020-21 campaign on Dec. 1 is "a little bit early."
The league office and the NBA's board of governors have discussed starting dates for next season ranging from December to March, sources told Wojnarowski. The league and its governors reportedly remain hopeful that the new campaign will begin by January.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have also agreed to push back the 60-day window that preserves each side's right to terminate the collective bargaining agreement, according to Wojnarowski. Both parties agreed to an initial extension in May.
The Minnesota Timberwolves own the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft after winning the draft lottery last week. Free agency commences only after the NBA's newest fiscal year starts and the salary cap is set.
The 2020-21 cap was previously projected at around $115 million, but teams are bracing for a substantial drop due to the coronavirus pandemic and the league's falling out with Chinese business partners this past fall.
