Report: NBA's new CBA expected to lower draft age, create mental health designation

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) are expected to agree to lower the draft-age eligibility from 19 to 18 as they negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The two sides are also reportedly expected to create a way for players to cite mental health issues that is similar to how the league handles physical injuries, among other changes.

The change in draft eligibility would allow high school players to make the leap directly to the NBA. The current rules, which were established in 2005, require selected players to be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in July that he was hopeful the next CBA would lower the age of draft eligibility. Silver had previously suggested increasing the age of eligibility to 20 but said he changed his mind due to the rise of NIL deals and the potential for the league to help players off the court from a younger age.

A mental health designation would allow players to manage mental health issues with the same seriousness as a listed physical injury, including when seeking treatment. This proposal follows increased awareness of and discussion about mental health around the league.

Current Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons told the Philadelphia 76ers shortly before last season that he wasn't mentally ready to play, which contributed to Simmons missing significant time. Other players, including DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love, opened up in recent years about their own mental health issues.

Officials from the league and players' association will meet in person this week as they continue to discuss a new CBA ahead of the Dec. 15 mutual opt-out deadline.

Another major issue in negotiations is luxury-tax penalties. The NBA and some team governors are expected to push for more severe tax penalties, Charania reports, although both sides may be interested in changing the tax structure generally.