2020 NBA Draft, Draft Lottery set for Aug. 25 and Oct.15, respectively

The 2020 NBA Draft Lottery and Draft will be held on August 25th and October 15th respectively, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Boston Celtics will need their ducks in a row for the 2020 NBA Draft by at least October 25th, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The ESPN analyst reports the NBA has decided on that date to host the draft, just three days later than the latest possible date of the 2020 NBA Finals.

And of course the league will need to hold a draft lottery to have a draft, which Wojnarowski relates will be conducted on August 25th.

No word at present on whether there will be a draft combine or individual workouts in light of the ongoing pandemic.

Nor any news on whether the draft lottery and/or draft will be in-person (with or without an audience) or virtual in the same vein of the WNBA and NFL earlier this year.

The issue of how the potential play-in games might affect draft odds, but with today’s critical Board of Governors’ meeting where these issues were discussed to at least some extent, details are likely soon forthcoming.

[lawrence-related id=36405,36376,36370,36357]

NBA postpones draft lottery, combine; mulls Dec. start to 2020-21

The NBA formally postponed the 2020 NBA Draft lottery and combine, and is mulling a December start to the 2020-21 NBA season.

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.

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.

[lawrence-related id=33554,33548,33512,33481]