The National Basketball Players Association said on a call on Friday night that it believes that no fans will be allowed to attend games for the entire 2020-21 season, reports The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
That detail was part of a larger discussion where players voiced their concerns surrounding the league potentially resuming play in Orlando this season. The conference call was arranged by NBPA vice-president Kyrie Irving, and featured NBPA president Chris Paul.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
A group of 80 NBA players, including Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul, met on a call to discuss their concerns surrounding the season’s potential resumption amid nationwide protests and unrest, reports The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Irving, who set up the call, stated that he doesn’t support the league resuming in Orlando out of support for civil justice reform. The call reportedly lasted one hour and 40 minutes.
“I don’t support going into Orlando. I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. I’m willing to give up everything I have. Something smells a little fishy. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are targeted as black men every day we wake up,” said Irving. Lakers guard Avery Bradley, who spoke after Irving, said that now was time to “play chess, not checkers.”
Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony reportedly stressed the importance of unity and allowing young players to have a voice, while Lakers’ Dwight Howard added that playing games will only serve to distract the country from its current issues.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell spoke of his injury concerns due to a lack of being in a competitive environment, saying that “we’re taking a big (injury) risk.”
Fonte: Shams Charania.
In an interview with The Step Back (FanSided), EuroLeague star Shane Larkin talked about a potential return to the NBA.
Larkin said that he would return to the NBA only if a team offered him the chance to play 18 to 25 minutes and shoulder “true responsibility”.
“I will not go back to the NBA as a third point guard,” Larkin said. “So, if any team asks about that, we’re not even gonna answer the phone.”
Larkin was having an MVP-caliber season with Efes before the EuroLeague season got canceled.
Fonte: FanSided.
Alex Kline is joining the Knicks as a scout.
The 26-year old comes from the New Orleans Pelicans where he has been the past four years.
The Knicks have hired Alex Kline as a scout, a high ranking team source told SNY. Kline was a scout with the New Orleans Pelicans for the past four years. The 26-year-old scouted on the college level and is well regarded by team personnel across the NBA.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 12, 2020
NBA reporters intentioned to cover on-site the NBA ‘bubbled’ season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex of Orlando would be locked inside the NBA ‘bubble’ for the entirety of the season.
According to The Daily Beast, the NBA plans to divide the press into two distinct “tiers.” The first, smaller tier would reside “in the bubble,” with reporters being tested daily, and permitted to interact with players and coaches, and not allowed to re-enter if they break quarantine at any point over the months-long resumption of play.
The second group, composed of reporters who work for media companies unable to shoulder this expense or those unwilling to be separated from their families for that length of time would be allowed to attend the games in person, but would not be allowed onto the Disney/ESPN campus. “In person, face-to-face interactions” with any players, coaches, or team staff would be prohibited altogether.
Fonte: The Daily Beast.
The NBA has moved up its target return date for games to resume from Friday, July 31st to Thursday, July 30th, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Teams will arrive in Orlando in mid-July to begin training camps; the league expects to complete The Finals by October 12th.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has revealed, in an interview with Lisa Robinson of Vanity Fair, that he thought he might get traded to the New York Knicks. Lillard signed a four-year, $196 million supermax contract with the Blazers during the 2019 offseason.
“I thought I was headed there a few years ago; I was hearing trade rumors,” said Lillard of the Knicks. “The Garden is my favorite place to play”.
Fonte: Vanity Fair.
Some NBA players expressed their concerns about the resumption of the season in the Walt Disney Resort Campus in Orlando, Florida.
Per ESPN, There were 40 to 50 players on and off a conference call in the past 24 hours discussing a number of concerns centered on the restart in Orlando, but there has been no formal petitioning to the NBPA from any group wanting out of the 22-team resumption, sources said.
As players have started to come to terms with the restrictive and isolated nature of the Orlando bubble — including no visitors until after the first round of the playoffs, nearly seven weeks after the opening of mid-July training camp — there has been increased dialogue about the prudence of restarting the season for a number of players, especially those on non-championship contenders, sources said.
Players deciding against the Orlando resumption would not be paid for missed games, sources said.
Players who decide against participating in Orlando could be replaced by a substitution player, sources told ESPN. The NBA plans to allow replacements for players who test positive for the coronavirus or suffer injuries, sources said.
Fonte: ESPN.
The Miami Heat are considering the signing of DeMarcus Cousins for the NBA playoffs, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Cousins has not played an NBA game since the last NBA Finals, and is a free agent since been waived by the Lakers on February.
Fonte: Ira Winderman.
Franchise legends Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups are two former players of the Pistons that they would have interest in hiring for an assistant general manager position, according to Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press.
Prince is currently vice president of basketball affairs for the Memphis Grizzlies. Billups has expressed that he would only be interested in being hired as general manager. The Pistons would prefer to hire Billups as an assistant GM because he has no previous NBA executive experience. Billups turned down an opportunity to run the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 to remain in broadcasting.
Fonte: Omari Sankofa.
Saddiq Bey is forgoing his remaining college eligibility at Minnesota and staying in the 2020 NBA Draft, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The forward ended his sophomore year at Villanova with 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assist per game, shooting 47% from the field, 45% from beyond the arc and 77% from the foul line.
He is the No.18 prospect in the ESPN Top 100
Villanova sophomore forward Saddiq Bey — a potential lottery pick — is staying in the 2020 NBA Draft and signing with @Excelsm_bball, Bey tells ESPN. Story: https://t.co/DKTYF73fIw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 9, 2020
We’re very proud of Saddiq. #OnceaWildcatAlwaysaWildcat pic.twitter.com/gJ9hTEgvtr
— Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) June 9, 2020
Shams Charania reports the tentative dates for the NBA Playoffs.
August 16-17: Play-in tournament(s)
August 18: First round of playoffs begin
September 1: Conference Semifinals begin
September 15: Conference Finals begin
September 30: NBA Finals begin
Fonte: Shams Charania.
San Antonio Spurs star LaMarcus Aldridge underwent arthroscopic procedure and rotator cuff debridement on his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
Spurs star LaMarcus Aldridge underwent arthroscopic procedure and rotator cuff debridement on his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 8, 2020
The expected protocol if an NBA player leaves the Orlando bubble includes a minimum 10-day quarantine and two negative coronavirus tests required.
Sources: Expected protocol if an NBA player leaves the Orlando bubble: Quarantined for no less than 10 days and must have two negative coronavirus tests.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 8, 2020
Fonte: Shams Charania.
The NBA and NBPA have agreed to conduct performance-enhancing drug testing during the resumed 2019-20 season in Orlando.
Tests for recreational drugs will remain suspended.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
The NBA’s “transaction window” starting around June 22 will include all 30 teams — not just the 22 returning to play in Orlando, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
Teams will be allowed to convert two-way players into NBA contracts and sign eligible free agents for the rest of season.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti talked about the possibility of seeing Andre Roberson back on the court for the resumption of the NBA season.
“The time has really helped Dre. From a health standpoint, he’s doing really well. We’re certainly hopeful, but we’ve got to cross that next bridge,” said Presti, who added the team hasn’t seen Roberson in contact practice.
Fonte: Erik Horne.
During a mailbag for the NY Post, Marc Berman said that the New York Knicks would be ‘undoubtedly’ open to trading Julius Randle.
Before the last trade-deadline there were several rumors about a deal to trade the former Kentucky to the Charlotte Hornets.
This year Randle was the Knicks’ top scorer with 19.5 points per game, plus 9.7 rebounds and 3.1 assist.
Fonte: Ny Post.
Winning percentage will be used to determine the final standings once the NBA season resumes, league sources told Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
The 22 teams invited to Orlando are expected to play 8 regular-season “seeding” games. Winning percentage could play a key role in the final standings as teams have played a different amount of games.
Bontemps points out that the Blazers have played two more games than the Pelicans and went 1-1, thus the Pelicans would have to have a better record than the Blazers in their remaining games to leap them in the standings.
Fonte: Tim Bontemps.
NBA teams are in discussion with the league over ways they can fill out their roster should players test positive for COVID-19 or suffer major injuries once the season resumes, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks.
Discussions have also centered around the use of players on two-way contracts, with teams hopeful that they will be allowed inside of the bubble.
The NBA’s preference is to keep rosters from expanding to 17 players to limit the possibility of virus carriers. In the case of positive tests or major injuries, there is expected to be no limit on the number of players teams could sign as replacements.
There will be, however, a restriction on the pool of eligible players that teams can choose from. Eligible players would likely have to have been signed in the NBA this season, or come from the G League.
Fonte: ESPN.
Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Ime Udoka has emerged as the front-runner for the Chicago Bulls head coaching position, sources told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin also remains a candidate for the role.
Fonte: Joe Cowley.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the NBA will allow a maximum of 1,600 people on their campus at Walt Disney World as they resume the season.
Family members (a maximum of three members per player, with some exceptions) will be allowed to enter the Orlando’s bubble after the first round. Players and families will be required to stay inside the bubble at all time.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
The NBA tentatively is planning to have a two-day free agency moratorium this October, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The free agency period will begin on October 18th with the moratorium lifted on October 20th.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
The National Basketball Players Association has informed players that the NBA/NBPA will conduct COVID-19 testing every night during the resumed season, as reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The tests will likely be conducted via mouth swabs and light nasal swabs and not the full invasive nasal swab. A player tested positive will be quarantined for a minimum of seven days.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
Vince Carter’s career is officially over since the Hawks will not be part of the 22 teams playing when the season resumes.
Carter has played 21 seasons in the NBA averaging. 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3 assists in 1.541 regular season games.
Carter, the 5th pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, has played with Raptors, Nets, Suns, Magic, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Kings and Hawks.
Vince Carter’s career is officially over since the Hawks will not be part of the 22 teams playing when the season resumes.
What a ride it’s been for Vinsanity. pic.twitter.com/FD47qSPc5A
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 4, 2020
The NBA’s Board of Governors approved the 22-team format to restart 2019-2020 season in the ‘Bubble’ at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The ESPN reporter added that the league has set dates for the Draft Lottery (25 August) and the 2020 NBA Draft (15 October).
NBA has set an August 25 Draft Lottery and October 15 Draft, sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020
The NBA’s Board of Governors has voted to approve the league’s 22-team format to restart the 2019-2020 season in Orlando, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020
The New York Knicks plan to interview Mike Woodson for the head coach vacancycy.
Woodson has coached the Knicks in 2012-2013 when he won 54 regular season games and a playoffs series, the only one since 2000.
In addition to Tom Thibodeau, Kenny Atkinson & interim HC Mike Miller, the Knicks are planning to interview former head coach Mike Woodson for their vacancy, per SNY sources. Woodson won 54 games with NYK in 2012-13 and won a playoff series that season, their only one since 2000
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 4, 2020
The NBA will have a play-in tournament for the eighth seed as part of its 22-team return-to-play, but there will be several conditions, as reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
If the ninth seed is four or more games back, then the eighth seed will earn the spot in the playoffs. If the ninth seed or higher is four or fewer games behind, then there will be a play-in tournament. The ninth seed will be a single-elimination format, while the existing eighth seed will need to lose twice.
In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies currently own the eighth seed with the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs each within four games. The Phoenix Suns are six games behind the Grizzlies. In the Eastern Conference, instead, the Orlando Magic are five-and-a-half games ahead of the Washington Wizards.
Despite both team and players ruling out a return in 2019-20, some Eastern Conference teams expecting to head to Orlando are planning the season as if Washington Wizards star John Wall may return to the court once the season resumes, as reported by SNY’s Ian Begley.
Wall has been sidelined due to injuries since December 2018.
Fonte: Ian Begley.
The Golden State Warriors are believed to prefer Tyrese Haliburton over LaMelo Ball and Killian Hayes, according to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Warriors reportedly see Haliburton as a better fit due to his elite passing and his ability on defense to defend multiple positions. Iowa State guard would play beside Stephen Curry and also become the primary ball-handler for the second unit.
Fonte: Connor Letourneau.