Sources: The NBA is close to agreeing on December 22 start to new season

After an uneasy report last week that the NBA and players were far apart on the league’s proposal for a 72-game 2020-21 regular season and December 22 start date, it now appears they are close to an agreement ahead of Friday’s deadline, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The National Basketball Players Association is planning to take a formal vote of the team player representatives late Thursday, and sources told ESPN that everything is progressing toward an agreement on a pre-Christmas start to the season. The NBPA is holding team conference calls this week, including several on Wednesday, that detail discussions with the league on a salary escrow for players in the range of 18% for the next two years, sources told ESPN.

Sources say an agreement is expected, although the escrow numbers are still being negotiated. If everything works out, training camp will begin on December 1, and a moratorium will be lifted, allowing the league to reopen for business on trades before the November 18 draft.