Amidst the massive influx of players testing positive for the coronavirus, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are discussing a plan that would require teams affected by COVID-19 to add replacement players, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Baxter Holmes.
Wojnarowski and Holmes write that NBA owners are desperate to avoid postponements and cancellations, and have come to an agreement on a plan to essentially update the hardship exception, but it must be approved by the NBPA as well.
The proposed plan would follow the same initial requirements as the hardship exception: four players need to be sidelined (either by injury or COVID) in order to sign a replacement player, but any teams with five or more players out would be required to sign additional players, in order to ensure teams have the minimum of eight players available.
So, four players out: replacement player available, but not required. Five players out: one replacement required. Six out, two required. Seven out, three required. A maximum of three replacement players would be available. All replacement players would be on 10-day contracts, the same as the current hardship exception.
Under the proposed plan, the 10-day replacement players would not count against the salary cap or luxury tax, which is a significant change for teams, according to Wojnarowski and Holmes.
This sucks. And it’s going to get a whole lot worse in the weeks after Christmas.
Honestly I like these new rules – more players are getting opportunity to play. But yeah, it might be a long way off till the outbreak stops. Just have to hope for the best here.
Good idea!
It’s too bad some of the players have overseas contracts as this might be their chance to get some NBA minutes. Is Antoine Walker still in shape?
IDK but I heard he could use the cash
He’s around 50 and 300lbs… I’m gonna go with no lol… Since you’re a bucks fan.. how’s Vin Baker these days? Glenn Robinson maybe? lol… more realistically this is great news for guys like Michael Beasley, Isaiah Thomas, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, etc etc etc.. the guys that would have signed in the big3 or the g league (some did the g league route already)
last year they waived 2 way requirements and let teams carry up to 17 players… why not just do that again now? That’s 2 roster spots right there.
Love this plan. No matter what your opinion is on COVID, I like that the NBA is making plans demonstrating that this season is going to move on without interruption.