The NBA season has been suspended for nearly two months without an end in sight, and as the hiatus flipped into May on Friday, the league began to shift its calendar.
The league postponed its draft lottery and draft combine, which were scheduled to take place in Chicago this month, because of the coronavirus pandemic. The draft lottery was scheduled for May 19 and the combine from May 21-24.
No reschedule dates were given for either event as the NBA “continues to closely monitor the coronavirus pandemic and consult with infectious disease specialists, public health experts and government officials,” according to a release.
Both moves seemed inevitable while the league is on hold and were ratified by the NBA’s board of governors Friday afternoon. The NBA has still stopped short of formally delaying the 2020 draft, according to ESPN. But with the event scheduled for June 25, a delay seems likely.
NBA decision makers have seemed committed to finding a way to resume and finish the 2019-20 season, even though they remain unsure what it would look like. Until the season is declared over, however, the league can’t hold a draft lottery or provide teams with draft position.
The NBA has started to make moves to reopen team facilities. Teams can begin reopening their practice facilities as soon as May 8 in states in which stay-at-home restrictions have been relaxed and it can be done safely.