The NBA is close to finalizing plans for the eight teams not in Orlando to hold practices and group workouts, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports.
Under the proposal, those teams would be allowed a week of practice at their home facilities, beginning the second week of August. They might also conduct two weeks of group workouts and scrimmages at two of those sites.
The plan would have to be approved by the National Basketball Players Association but talks have progressed to point where an announcement could be made next week, according to Bonnell. If those teams do agree to the two-week workout and scrimmage sessions, they would be subject to the same safety protocols as the players at the Orlando campus.
The teams not currently in Orlando are the Hornets, Pistons, Knicks, Bulls, Timberwolves, Hawks, Cavaliers and Warriors.
Many of those teams have been pushing for some sort of organized activities, feeling they’re at a competitive disadvantage compared to the teams on the Orlando campus. However, the Knicks were reportedly reluctant to hold scrimmages against other clubs since they have numerous free agents on their roster.
Currently, players on those teams are only allowed to work on individual skills development, Bonnell notes.
I don’t get this… if a team wants to practice, and their state has no current Covid rules against it… why do they need the NBA’s permission?
Do non-playoff teams usually practice during the playoffs?
Of course not! But they have 5 months before training camp, this year they would have like 9 months, hence it is a clear & unfair competitive disadvantage!
No one said it wasn’t, that’s why the NBA is doing it. Teams can’t just arbitrarily decide when they want to do these things.
I don’t think teams normally have their season abruptly go on hiatus and then don’t participate with the rest of the league when it comes back.
Restarts have to be worked out with the union.
Player recruitment is a big issue. Again, don’t let the Knicks decide… oh wait they already did.