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Stop the presses. We have a start date for the 2020-21 NBA season.
On Thursday night, the NBPA announced that it had voted “tentatively” to approve the NBA’s proposed start date of December 22 for the 2020-21 season and play a shortened 72-game schedule.
In such a scenario, it has been widely reported that training camps will begin on December 1. The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled for November 18 and free agency. will probably take place shortly after.
While it’s a quick change from the NBA Finals that conclude on October 11, the league has argued that the financial advantages for a December start would be huge. A plan that preserves the NBA’s Christmas Day showcase, wraps up the 2021 Finals before the Tokyo Olympics in July, and brings the league schedule back to its original track from October to June for the 2021 season. 2022 could be worth between $ 500 million and $ 1 billion. , Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported.
Obstacles remain to be cleared, as the union’s statement says, “additional details remain to be negotiated,” including drafting a health and safety protocol and finalizing possible modifications to the collective agreement, the latter of which are expected to be resolved. next week. according to Wojnarowski:
The salary cap is expected to remain near $ 109 million, and the percentage of escrow player salaries around “17 to 18 percent” over the next two years, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania:
Charania previously reported the framework for a 72-game season starting Dec. 22, while talks were still ongoing. The plan was then said to include “three-to-four” preseason games, a six-day All-Star break in early March, the regular season ending May 16, the playoffs beginning May 22 ( with a play-in tournament for seeds # 7-10 occurring just before) and the finals ending on July 22.
The league aims to play games in local markets, but will cut travel by 25 percent, according to the Charania report. The 2020-21 calendar will feature 14 consecutive games for each team.
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The Bulls last played on March 10, the night before the NBA suspended its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have since renovated their main office and hired a new head coach in Billy Donovan (who is quickly filling his staff).
After an eight month break, there will be rust to shake off. And for a newly minted leadership, it’s a narrow window to build relationships, readiness and the Bulls’ lineup itself for the start of a crucial rebuilding season.
Next is the draft, followed by free agency. The league has already allowed teams to open their facilities for group training of up to 10 players.
In short, and we mean shortly – from then on, let the games begin.
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