Adam Silver: ‘time is running out’ for Christmas start to 2020-21 season

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes time is running out to get a deal in place to start the 2020-21 season before Christmas to save hundreds of millions in revenue.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver related to all 30 of the league’s general managers on a conference call that “time is running out” to secure a start date ahead of Christmas Day that would save the league “hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue,” per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and league continue negotiations after extending the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) deadline a fourth time this past Friday.

But, ESPN reports waning enthusiasm an agreement can be reached in time to salvage a plan for a 72-game season to start December 22nd given the need to start training camps on about December 1st to make the plan feasible.

There is still optimism a deal could be reached as the NBA looks to increase revenue streams to franchises via expanded sports betting, hard alcohol and casinos that could reportedly boost revenue by $80 – $100 million.

Another element up for discussion is a retooled version of the play-in tournament used in the Disney bubble.

This iteration would differ by involving seeds 7-10, with the seventh and eighth seeds playing to secure the seventh seed, and ninth and tenth seeds battling for a shot at stealing the eighth seed from the loser of the game to decide the seventh seed in a subsequent contest.

The NBA and NBPA have until Friday, November 6th to resolve their differences.

They include key issues such as how much player salary will be held in escrow until it is known how much revenue the league loses due to ongoing pandemic-related issues.

It will also address where the luxury tax and salary cap levels will be set in the coming and near-term future seasons among other, related concerns.

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