The NBPA is preparing players for the probability that the start of free agency in mid-October could be pushed back several weeks.
Free agency was scheduled to begin on Oct. 18, but because of the uncertainties surrounding next season’s projected league revenues, pushing back the Oct. 18 date would give the NBA and NBPA a better ability to “formulate the parameters of 2020-2021 salary cap and luxury tax thresholds,” according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Front offices are also reportedly privately concerned with the lack of salary cap and luxury tax projections in place prior to the Oct. 16 draft.
There is interest among several teams in connecting the NBA draft and free agency periods so they can be delayed together, Wojnarowski also notes.
Next NBA season has a tentative start date of Dec. 1, but NBPA executive director Michele Roberts previously expressed doubts that will happen.
If next season doesn’t start on that date, the season could potentially begin later in December 2020 or even in January or February 2021.
