The NBA is getting back to business with the season set to resume in Orlando at the end of July.
The NBA and NBPA reportedly finalized terms on a revised CBA for the restart of the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, which means the wheels are now officially in motion for games to resume at the end of July at Disney World in Orlando. Twenty-two of the league's 30 teams will be in attendance, and they'll each play eight regular-season games for seeding purposes before proceeding to the playoffs. With the return to action comes a lot of questions, which we will try to answer here.
Tracking the latest signings:
How many players can teams bring to Orlando?
Teams are permitted to bring 17 total players to Orlando -- up to 15 players on standard contracts and two additional two-way players. Playoff rosters will also consist of 17 players: 13 active and four inactive.
Are players required to go to Orlando?
No. Between the coronavirus, concerns about the quarantine situation and the desire to continue fighting for social justice, there are all sorts of valid reasons for players to be wary about going to Orlando. Ahead of the departure date, teams are sending questionnaires to players and coaches to determine whether they are healthy enough to make the trip.
If a team decides a player is high-risk from a health perspective, they may be excused from Orlando and will still receive their full salary. Any other player is free to opt-out of playing, and will not be in breach of their contract. However, if they voluntarily decide not to play, they will not be paid for those missed games.
What happens if a player tests positive for COVID-19?
Any player who tests positive will be required to quarantine for a minimum of seven days, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. According to multiple sources, any player who contracts the coronavirus or gets injured can be replaced, but the replaced player will not be eligible to return to the Orlando bubble. The NBA protocol for a positive coronavirus test result is as follows, according to Charania:
- Enter immediate isolation/separate location -- "Isolation Housing"
- Retest to confirm positive
- Exit isolation after consecutive negative tests and return to activities
However, the occurrence of a small or otherwise expected number of COVID-19 cases will not require a decision to suspend or cancel the resumption of the 2019-20 season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Will teams be permitted to sign replacement players?
Yes. The league has set its "transaction window," in which teams will be permitted to sign replacement players, from June 23 at 12 p.m. ET until June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET., per Charania. It will feature all 30 teams, not just the 22 that will be competing in Orlando. Once the period begins, teams will be able to sign eligible free agents, convert two-way players into full NBA contracts, and waive players during the given time frame.
Who are the best available free agents?
There are plenty of free agents available for teams to sign. Here's a look at some:
- DeMarcus Cousins (intends to sit out season)
- Joe Johnson
- Isiah Thomas
- Tyler Johnson
- Trey Burke
- Ryan Anderson
- Allen Crabbe
- Anthony Tolliver
- Ryan Broekhoff
- Gerald Green
- Pau Gasol
- Nene
- Iman Shumpert
- Jordan Bell
- J.R. Smith
- Jamal Crawford
- Lance Stephenson
One thing that is interesting to consider is if key players opt out of Disney, the free agents who are currently available might have to play real postseason minutes for teams they weren't even a part of before this.
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