The NBA has formally postponed the NBA Draft lottery and combine, two May events that would make little sense to hold soon if the league ends up moving the NBA Draft back from its original June 25th date.
The league announced the postponements Friday, sharing in a statement it plans to “closely monitor the coronavirus pandemic and consult with infectious disease specialists, public health experts and government officials” regarding how best to move forward.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski related that a formal vote on whether to move the 2020 NBA Draft was “held off on”, but that the expectation was that that date would be moved back as well.
Reporting on @SportsCenter on The NBA Board of Governors' discussions on pushing back start of 2020-2021 season to December. pic.twitter.com/N1dKflzFoY
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 2, 2020
This lines up with the reports The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor related hearing from league sources on what front offices expected to see happen with this year’s draft.
Given the importance of the final standings of a given season to setting the draft order, a resolution on what to do about the remainder of the suspended 2019-20 regular and postseasons seems likely to set the timetable for the draft and related events going forward.
In a related move, the NBA is reportedly considering moving the start of the 2020-21 NBA season to December to allow more time to plan for any further obstacles created by the pandemic, again per Wojnarowski.
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