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Knicks: NBA pushes back draft, free agency, start of next season

By Jeffrey Bellone

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: A 'we love New York' is displayed on a billboard outside the Madison Square Garden as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on August 29, 2020 in New York City. The fourth phase allows outdoor arts and entertainment, sporting events without fans and media production. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: A 'we love New York' is displayed on a billboard outside the Madison Square Garden as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on August 29, 2020 in New York City. The fourth phase allows outdoor arts and entertainment, sporting events without fans and media production. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks’ offseason remains on hold.

After being stuck on the outside looking in since the 2019-20 season was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the New York Knicks will have to wait a bit longer until they can start reshaping their roster and thinking about playing real NBA games again.

The NBA and NBPA have agreed to push back the 2020 NBA Draft, originally rescheduled for October 16, along with free agency, originally set for October 18, and the start of the 2020-21 season, according to The Athletic. New dates have yet to be determined.

There had been some indications that next season would begin as soon as December 1st, or possibly on Christmas, but it seems to be a wild guess at this point as to when the new season can kick-off.

This means team president Leon Rose – who replaced Steve Mills in February – will have more time to prepare for his first offseason in charge of the Knicks. The former CAA big wig is trying to revamp a roster that finished with the 6th worst record in the NBA last season, after finishing dead last the season before.

The Knicks have tried to remain busy while the NBA has resumed play in Orlando without them. Rose has hired a long list of executives and coaches, including head coach Tom Thibodeau and scouting guru Walt Perrin.

New York at least knows where they will pick in the draft, whenever it is finally held. They fell from sixth in the pre-lottery standings to eighth. Despite limitations on scouting and in-person workouts, the team will presumably use the extra time before the draft to pore over game film and scouting reports. The Knicks own the 8th, 27th, and 38th picks.

Next. 1 FA target from every Central division team. dark

Thibodeau is expected to get his first real workout with his new team later this month. The NBA is allowing teams to conduct workouts in their home cities.

However, with several players on the Knicks’ current roster set to become free agents, and with the draft not yet complete, the new coach will be limited in the number of players he can work with who will be part of the team next season.

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