The NBA is set to return and finish the 2019-20 season, but it does not come without some risks. The coronavirus is still a factor in all of this and if a player does test positive, then his team will have to find a way to replace him.
The NBA is mulling over a new rule that will allow teams to sign any eligible player to their roster should a player test positive or if one were to be injured during this time.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks reports:
If COVID-19 or a serious injury strikes a team during training camps or the eight regular-season seeding games, there are expected to be no limitations on the number of players a team could sign to replace those lost, but there would be restrictions on those in the pool of eligible players, sources said.
Eligible replacement players probably will have had to be signed in the NBA or G League or be on training camp contracts this season, sources said. Under these restrictions, for example, no team could sign veteran Jamal Crawford — who went unsigned all season — or an international player
In the case of the Philadelphia 76ers, they could bring back a guy like Trey Burke. He was waived by the team in February in order for the Sixers to acquire Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III at the deadline. Burke is a guy who can go out and create his own offense and he knows coach Brett Brown’s system.
Of course, Philadelphia could also sign somebody else, but Burke would make the most sense due to him already being with the Sixers and understanding how they do things. Being this late in the season, should anything happen, familiarity will be a welcomed addition. [lawrence-related id=32731,32721,32704]