NBA Board of Governors meeting results in earlier trade deadline and fewer timeouts

The annual NBA Board of Governors meeting in Vegas results in earlier trade deadline and rules affecting game flow.

With the second stage of the Vegas Summer League underway the annual NBA Board of Governors meeting occurred. This year the priority was tied primarily to making the game quicker particularly the final 2-minutes.

Adam Silver said the League was most particularly focused on pace and flow of the game. Silver cited end of games as being the most annoying (and choppy) with all the stoppages.

Silver addressed reporters highlighting the changes and held his annual question and answer session, now synonymous with this period in Vegas.

Fewer Timeouts:

Timeouts during games got the biggest overhaul with the following alterations:

• Timeouts reduced from a total of 18 to 14 or 7 per team

These can occur at any time in the game which is a major shift. Prior to this change fans often saw coaches taking timeouts just prior to end of halves to utilize the time (or lose it). Though this is meant to speed up the game it will be interesting to see if some teams hold onto to all their timeouts for the final quarter.  Although this is partially covered by another change involving timeouts in the final 3-minutes of game.s

• To wit, each team is limited to 2 timeouts after the 3 -minute mark in the fourth quarter or resuming play after the second mandatory timeout in the fourth – whichever occurs later.
• All non-mandatory team timeouts are now 75 seconds
• Only two timeouts per team will be available in overtime periods (reduced from three).

Stricter observance of Half Time Break:

Half time is meant to last 15 minutes, but some teams do not observe this timing or rather are lackadaisical about enforcing it. Officials will now assess a team So now, any team a delay of game penalty for any team not ready to start as the halftime clock expires.

Free Throw Management:

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Officials will be more diligent about the amount of time players take to get up their free throws. Additionally, if the shooter crosses the 3-point line  teams will be assessed a delay of game penalty. Expect this latter situation to draw copious whistles, especially in the early stages of the season as refs get players used to the hastened timing

Trade Deadline 10-days earlier:

In the biggest change of the season the trade deadline moves up to 10 days before the All-Star Game. This change was a long time coming and makes a ton of sense. Teams cited the fact it was unsettling to have a player traded immediately after the break. This new change will allow the traded players time to move their families and settle in during the break.

Inevitably there will end up being  a player(s) participating at All-Star weekend sporting a new jersey despite being selected for work with their prior team.

The other major benefit which comes from this change is teams and new players will have more time together both in terms of time together and games played.