Since last week, May 8 has been the date circled on the calendar as to when some level of normalcy would return to the NBA’s workforce. It was reported that the league would allow teams located in states where stay-at-home orders were being rolled back to reopen their practice facilities so long as certain conditions were met.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that the league office and the NBA players union would host a call for its players on Friday to provide information. It is believed that the league will notify the players of the reopening of some training facilities as well as, possibly, accommodations being made for players located in states that are still under stay-at-home orders.
NBA Players Association Executive Director Michele Roberts and NBA commissioner Adam Silver will hold a call for all players on Friday May 8, sources told ESPN.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 6, 2020
While the news would certainly qualify as “good” for the league’s players, there is still a way to go before the league returns to competition.
Also reporting for ESPN, Adrian Wojnarowski reports that teams will be permitted to assign up to six staff members to oversee the voluntary workouts, but head coaches won’t be permitted. In all likelihood, that’s an attempt at not giving those teams that will be permitted to reopen their facilities a competitive advantage.
Teams opening practice facilities for volunteer workouts will be able to designate six assistant coaches or player development personnel to provide supervision of player workouts on the courts, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 7, 2020
In recent days, there has been increased chatter of the NBA potentially contesting a truncated playoff in a neutral site, with Las Vegas and Central Florida’s Disney World both getting consideration. Before that can happen, though, players needs to get back into their training facilities and eventually get to the point where they can compete in scrimmages. Friday will hopefully be the first step in that process.
Shelburne specifically mentioned the Trail Blazers, Cavaliers, Nuggets and Rockets as the only four teams expected to reopen their facilities on Friday, but, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, after additional consideration, the Rockets will follow the directives issued by the State of Texas and remain closed until at least May 18.
Last week, Thunder general manager Sam Presti addressed the media and only offered that the franchise wasn’t “committed” to reopening their facilities on May 8. At this point, Oklahoma City is not expected to reopen before next week.
The situation, obviously, remains fluid.