Jeff Zillgitt

USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK — The NBA remains "very interested" in moving the draft after July 1 and packaging it with a season-ending awards show possibly on consecutive nights, a person familiar with the league's thinking told USA TODAY Sports.

The league would like to create more space between the end of the Finals and the draft so it can better promote the draft. The person requested anonymity because negotiations remain before both become official.

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Moving the draft back will be difficult because it impacts free agency and the collective bargaining agreement. Also, the league needs to negotiate a change in the draft date with its TV partners. The league's TV deal with ESPN/ABC and Turner Sports, the parent company of TNT and NBA TV, expires after the 2015-16 season.

The league is also concerned about delaying free agency and pushing that period even deeper into July. The NBA season is already turning into a long year with the draft, free agency and summer league taking place shortly after the Finals.

If there was a guarantee the league could wrap up a majority of free agency by the end of July, that would clear one hurdle. The league is not interested in major free agent transactions taking place in August when the league normally begins its down time.

Right now, there are no discussions about flip-flopping the draft and free agency, but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has shown he is willing to listen to most ideas.

These are all part of the NBA's discussions with its TV partners. While Fox and NBC are expected to make a bid for televising games, the person told USA TODAY Sports that reaching a deal with the incumbents remains the priority. There is no guarantee either Fox or NBC gets an NBA stake. With that said, the league has been impressed with NBC's coverage of the NHL.