The NBA has told teams that it will postpone the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery and Combine, according to multiple reports and first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. Both events were scheduled for later this month in Chicago.
The league has slowly started its process to restart the season, with teams in areas where stay-at-home orders have been lifted allowed to open practice facilities next week.
The delaying of the combine makes sense given the amount of people that would have to be present in a single gym as well as close meetings between executives, coaches, and prospects.
Delaying the draft lottery seems more notable as it could be a sign that the NBA is hoping to salvage some part of the regular season rather than immediately starting the playoffs if the season does resume. With hopes of a return to the regular season, even a shortened one, the lottery order is not set and a lottery cannot be completed.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who have been lobbying California health and government officials to allow them to reopen their facilities, hold their 2020 first round pick with no restrictions but would not be involved in the draft lottery process as they have already clinches a playoff spot.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA Board of Governors did not vote to delay the June draft but it is expected that they will eventually make that decision.
