This would seem to be a smart play on behalf of both the NCAA and the NBA.
Update from NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt on NBA Draft withdrawal date.
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) May 13, 2020
Full statement –> https://t.co/B1nrB3H0nt pic.twitter.com/SKhaw9x2q2
Moving the deadline back gives student-athletes more flexibility and opportunity to explore their options, which is all the more necessary amid the coronavirus pandemic.
For starters, the NBA lottery and NBA scouting combine have been postponed, so there is no definitive draft timeline to begin with.
Alternatively, some collegiate players might feel they are better off entering the draft and turning pro rather than risking a lost season, should the NCAA see fit to alter the 2020-21 college basketball campaign.
All the above factors give prep athletes the chance to weigh their future, while also allowing NBA teams to more adequately review game tape and assemble their draft boards accordingly.
Given the absence of top-heavy talent, drafting for future depth will undoubtedly be a crucial component this year. With that in mind, teams around the NBA should find favor with this ruling.
Moreover, it is also possible that players who had not previously desired to enter the draft will toss their names in, offering a wider selection of talent to teams looking to improve their respective rosters.
