Draft age going back to high school

The NBA and its players’ union don’t always agree. But after both organizations held their annual meetings here this week in conjunction with the NBA Summer League, it is clear they agree on at least one thing: The NBA isn’t going to have an age limit for incoming players much longer.

“My personal view is that we’re ready to make that change,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday at the end of his news conference following the league’s board of governors meetings this week, adding that the change won’t be immediate.

Discussions have been ongoing between the league and the Players Association for months about changing the age limit from where it currently stands — 19 years old and a year removed from high school for domestic players; 19 years old for international players — to 18 years old, which would return the league to the days of players jumping straight from high school to the NBA.

In order to allow teams time to prepare for such a change, it is widely expected that the changed age limit won’t go into effect until the 2021 NBA draft.

According to Michele Roberts, the recently reelected executive director of the players’ union, the decision to change the age limit and when it will be implemented could come in the next few months.

“I will say, and I know you know, it’s been something that has been top of mind for him, for the teams, and for us,” Roberts said.

Silver also said the start of free agency will be shifted to earlier in the day next year — after yet another frenzy of activity took place on July 1 just after 12:01 a.m. Eastern time.