The NBA has informed teams that the 2020 NBA Draft could take place on November 18, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports. The date is not set in stone but that’s what the league and player’s union have been negotiating toward.
The originally forecasted draft date was October 16 but the league and union never solidified that date. There was initial concern that the draft and ensuing start of free agency would have started too quickly after the conclusion of the Finals in that scenario.
Teams additionally wanted to delay the draft so that they had more time to negotiate the salary cap numbers for the unprecedented 2020-21 campaign.
All told, a mid-November draft would be roughly five months after the initially scheduled June draft, giving teams plenty of additional time to scout players at a time when access to prospects is limited.
The top pick in this year’s NBA Draft will go to the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls round out the top four.
