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The NBA Board of Governors has met to discuss timing of the 2020 NBA Draft. Multiple reports are emerging about conclusions from the meeting. Signs point towards the NBA delaying the annual May combine in Chicago, the draft lottery, and perhaps the June draft itself due to physical distance requirements stemming from COVID-19.
Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets that the league has “indefinitely postponed” the combine and lottery drawing.
The NBA has indefinitely postponed its NBA Draft Lottery and Draft Combine in May in Chicago due to coronavirus pandemic, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 1, 2020
Both moves make sense in the current climate. Participants could not be in physical contact with staff or each other during the combine, eliminating the usual exercises and tests upon which the event is based. Drawing lottery positions is impossible when the league has not decided how, or whether, the regular season will conclude.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN goes a step farther, saying other dates are in play:
The NBA's Board of Governors voted on those items in a conference call today, but held off on formally pushing back the June 25 Draft date -- although sources still expect that will eventually be done.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 1, 2020
Among the discussion topics today on the call: The merits of moving back the start of the 2020-2021 until December, sources said. Part of that ongoing converation surrounds the opportunity a delay could give NBA teams to get more fans in arenas for more games next season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 1, 2020
The NBA has been on hiatus due to COVID-19 since March 11th.