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Teams around the league are preparing for the start of the 2020-21 season, which could be coming sooner than anticipated. One major event on the path to next season is the NBA Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 25 before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the draft is set for next month on Nov. 18. According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, another important step towards next season, the start of NBA Free Agency, could follow two to three days after the draft:
Some teams, I'm told, are preparing for NBA free agency to begin as early as Nov. 20 or Nov. 21 -- 48 to 72 hours after the Nov. 18 NBA Draft -- if the plan to start the 2020-21 season Dec. 22 goes ahead. Further clarity is expected by week's end ...
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 27, 2020
Starting free agency soon after the draft would allow teams to stay in line with the targeted start date for next season of Dec. 22.
Stein also mentioned earlier this week that teams are preparing for training camps to begin on Dec. 1, leaving only a couple of weeks for draft picks and free-agent signings to arrive in their new cities.