It’s already known that the 2020 NBA Draft will not take place in June as scheduled. That became more than clear when the league suspended its season back in March amid the ongoing global pandemic.
We now might have a somewhat firm date when the annual event will take place. According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, several sources around the Association believe that the draft will be pushed back to early September.
The changes don’t end here.
NBA free agency
The very same report notes that the NBA Board of Governors could decide to move the start of free agency. It would begin before the draft itself starts. This is something that has not happened in the modern history of the league. It could also have some wide-ranging ramifications.
We see moves made during the draft that take into account impending free agency. If the latter were to start before the draft, it shifts the dynamic in a big way. Would more veteran players be traded during the draft with rosters already pretty much set? It could make for a rather interesting annual draft, one that will likely be held virtually.
The 2020 NBA Draft
This year’s class is considered one of the weakest in the modern history of the NBA. Teams likely wouldn’t have much time before the end of the truncated season and the draft itself to focus on prospects.
Given that in-person meetings are banned during the ongoing pandemic, this is magnified even further. How would that impact the annual event?
The 2019-20 NBA season
The league will likely finalize a plan to restart the season at some point next week. It’s expected that said season will resume in a bubble city at Walt Disney World in Florida at some point in late July.
Looking at the math, this would give the NBA about a month to conclude its season before the start of the offseason. Talk about expediting things.