For the fourth time this fall, the NBA and the NBPA have extended the deadline to opt out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which governs league operations. Terminating the agreement requires six weeks notice. October 30th was the latest deadline for either side to serve such notice, but the parties have agreed on November 6th as the new deadline.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN broke the news about the extension.
ESPN Sources: For fourth time, NBA and NBPA agree to extend deadline to serve notice on terminating the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Extension goes to Nov. 6 now, which allows additional time for talks on CBA modifications. Discussions are ongoing this weekend.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2020
Multiple issues are at stake in these negotiations. The most critical is how to determine the league’s salary cap level and ancillary financial issues coming off of a year which featured an unprecedented season stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NBA and its players are also wrangling over the starting date of the 2020-21 season, with the league reportedly angling for a December 22nd start, the players more comfortable with mid-January.
There's still a gulf between NBA and NBPA on a start date for the 2020-2021 season, sources tell ESPN. NBA wants pre-Christmas; NBPA still preferring mid-January. Economic issues remain significant, including escrow withholding on player salaries w/ revenues down b/c of no fans. https://t.co/tX4dlyP1EE
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2020
The NBA wants a shortened 72-game season with the Dec. 22 start, but playing fewer games than that in a potential January start hasn't been raised, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2020
Terminating the CBA would throw the new season into turmoil. Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that, should either side declare an “opt-out” on the 6th, the actual date of expiration would fall in mid-December, just eight days before the league hopes the new season would start.
If either side provides notice by Nov. 6, the CBA will terminate by December 14 — unless the parties agree otherwise. https://t.co/ez0Afs0PuU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2020
More on this next week.