The idea of the NBA resuming its 2019/20 season seemed to take a positive step forward on Tuesday evening as a result of a pair of news items. As we relayed, the NBPA sent a memo to agents informing them that the union’s sense is that players want to finish the season. Meanwhile, commissioner Adam Silver spoke to the league’s Board of Governors and conveyed a sense of optimism about the resumption of the season, suggesting that a decision might be possible within the next two-to-four weeks.
Both of those stories include several important details on the discussions that the league and its players are having, but we’ve got a few more related notes to pass along this morning. Let’s dive in…
- The NBA world is generally in agreement that it makes sense to wait until the “last possible minute” to make a decision on the season, in order to gain as much info as possible before then, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said this morning during a Get Up appearance (video link). However, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, there’s a sense that a decision can’t be put off until July. In other words, that decision is likely to be finalized in June.
- Wojnarowski and Charania both note that executives and players around the NBA – even on lottery teams – understand the financial ramifications tied to the decision on whether or not to complete the season. That understanding contributed to an “overwhelming” support among players for resuming and finishing the season, per Woj and Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
- According to Reynolds, the poll conducted by the NBPA on players’ desire to resume the season gave a “clear sense” that players would like to play not just the postseason but at least some of the regular season as well.
- However, Reynolds cautions that the methodology of the NBPA poll – including how many players responded – is unclear. And Marc Berman of The New York Post (Twitter link) hears from a source that there was some internal miscommunication in the union and that the poll was unauthorized. For what it’s worth, one player told The Los Angeles Times that he thought about 70% of players were in favor of completing the season, which wouldn’t exactly qualify as “overwhelming” support — but that could have just been a rough estimate.
- Once the league formalizes its plans for a return, it will aim to standardize coronavirus testing among the 30 teams, tweets Wojnarowski. “The biggest issue is the number of tests, and we can’t take tests from those who need it,” one source involved in Tuesday’s Board of Governors call told Charania.
- Silver also said on Tuesday’s call that if one positive test is enough to shut down the season, then “we probably shouldn’t go down this path,” tweets Wojnarowski. That means, as noted on Tuesday, that the league is prepared for some number of positive tests — it’s not clear how many would be too many.
Geez, players who test positive are out. There’s going to be shorted rosters, get over it.
Players responding to a survey will assume what they want to, on rules & enforcement. What actually happens though, will cause some to say that they didn’t sign up for this.
There may even be bed checks! (I doubt it)
Just cancel the remainder of the season. Same with baseball.