Davis Bertans, who blossomed this year as a stretch forward shooting over 42 percent from distance for the Washington Wizards before the NBA paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, will reportedly sit out when the league comes back.
This makes the most sense for Bertans.
He’s set to be a free agent this offseason and could be in for a huge payday, so he probably doesn’t want to risk injury that would cost him. Plus, if he did play, it would be for eight games in an attempt to catch the Orlando Magic, whom they trail by 5.5 contests for the eighth seed in the East.
Although Bertans’ case is different than other players’ given his free-agent status (there aren’t too many big-name free agents on teams looking outside in on the postseason), he’s almost undoubtedly not going to be the last name who opts out before the June 24 deadline for those who don’t want to play.
Talk has been for a bit that the Wizards would support their vets they’re committed to sitting in Orlando if that’s what the players decide. Bertans is a free agent after this year, but the Wizards still absolutely want to keep him.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 22, 2020
There are players who might not want to take that same injury risk when it comes to attempting to qualify for the postseason — LaMarcus Aldridge got surgery on his right shoulder in April, which may have told you how he might have felt about the Spurs’ chances in the Orlando bubble. I wonder if members of the Phoenix Suns — six games behind the Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the West — could bow out.
"I talked with Victor Oladipo … over the weekend, and he's still uncertain whether he's going to fully commit to the bubble."
—@wojespn pic.twitter.com/KSAboGuXQZ
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 22, 2020
And in that group of teams, like the Wizards, Suns, Spurs and others, if they have any doubts about beating the elite squads even if they get in to the postseason — the Bucks, Lakers and Clippers come to mind — you may see some players opt out, particularly if there are those who are alarmed by the increase in positive COVID-19 tests this past week around the sports world and may be worried about their health in Florida.
Even players who are in contention may have fears about their health and opt out.
There are also those who might side with Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who has spoken with players about not supporting the return to play because it would take away from the fight against systemic racism.
So don’t expect to see Bertans as the only one saying “no thanks” to Disney World.
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