Due to COVID-19 extending last season into October, the concern is now surrounding the new NBA start date. With the teams just coming out of the Orlando bubble, many are wary of the proposed start date.
The draft is currently scheduled for Nov. 18th, leaving less than two weeks for post-draft free agency if it closes by Dec. 1st. Reports also list Dec. 22nd as a proposed start date. This comes after rumors emerged surrounding a potential spring or late winter restart to have at least some fans back in stadiums.
The shortened offseason poses a concern for many players, especially those who were part of deep playoff runs. The Lakers and Heat will be the most affected as their season ended just two weeks ago.
Older players also will be affected by the shortened offseason more so than the younger players. Lakers guard Danny Green said LeBron and other veterans could take a month’s break if the season does indeed start on the 22nd.
Teams who never made the initial bubble will be at an advantage over the others. The Warriors have the greatest head start with the likes of Klay Thompson and Steph returning after a long offseason. Even teams like the Nets, who lost in the first round, have a significantly longer offseason.
To avoid any losses in revenue, the NBA looks to start as soon as possible. However, no dates are definite. The NBA Players’ Association is still yet to agree to any restart plan, but players don’t seem to endorse the proposed dates fully.
The players make the league possible; if they don’t agree to the terms of their restart, negotiations will only continue. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the league approaches the 2020-2021 season.
