OK, I'm now wondering if some of the owners are thinking this might be OK if it happens. They lose some money now, but they have reason and leverage to force a new CBA. Those things take time to agree to, and if COVID-19 isn't allowing fans in the arenas for the start or all of the 2021 season, why pay players if you can't have a full season and can't guarantee playoff completion.
This isn't like past years when once a CBA is approved, they play in front of fans. Why approve a CBA (as owners) when you have no clue what your revenue is going to be and have contracts based on a revenue model that is out of date?
The players may have given them an out on paying full salaries for next season when for the NBA, it is probably best to get a good understanding of how they can manage COVID-19.