The NBA is fully discussing a second “bubble” in Chicago for the eight teams that have not been invited to play in Florida, allowing them to participate in a mini-training camp and subsequent games against other teams with a target date. in September, sources reported to ESPN on Thursday.
Details are still being finalized and teams continue to push for an alternative plan that allows them to organize mini-pitches within their local markets and explore the idea of creating regional sites where teams can clash.
Multiple team sources said union leader Michele Roberts has been firm in his insistence that non-playoff teams follow the same protocol as the 22 teams that will be quarantined in Orlando and competing for the NBA championship. Commissioner Adam Silver supports Roberts on this issue, it was confirmed by those who were present at the call.
“Michele made it clear,” said a front-office member whose team pushed to create a mini-pitch within their market. “Adam is getting along well. I understand their point, but it’s frustrating for us not to be able to loosen the restrictions a little so we can do some work in our gyms.”
Seven of the eight non-playoff teams participated in a call Thursday with league officials, with the New York Knicks as the lone team without a call rep because they were interviewing coaching candidates, including Los Angeles assistant Jason Kidd and San. Lakers Will Hardy, assistant to Antonio Spurs, reported ESPN sources. In that call, the league sought reassurance from the teams that will send their players if they move forward in the bubble format, sources told ESPN.
The game would look like a summer league format, with specific parameters still under discussion.
The Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Knicks were the eight uninvited teams in Orlando to restart the league.
“The way they frame him is almost irrelevant to us,” a general manager told ESPN. “It’s more of an opportunity to get our young kids to work with some game simulations.”
Pistons manager Dwane Casey said he did an informal survey of the coaches who are not in Orlando, and says most of them prefer to keep their mini-fields.
“We would rather do it than go to the bubble,” said Casey, “because unlike those Orlando teams, we wouldn’t have played for the same reason.
“The reason why we want these mini-fields is to bring our team together, have that camaraderie, improve and enjoy the competition. We believe we can do it safely in our environment. We can’t let these guys sit from March 11 to December with nothing. It will hurt their career. It’s too long a layoff. “
Some teams pushed for a two-week delay before signing the second bubble, regarding the increase in the number of NBA players who test positive for coronavirus and as cases increase in Florida.
“Some of us would like to see how things are going in Orlando,” a team official told ESPN.
Other teams believe that a two-week delay could completely disrupt the bubble’s chances.
“See how long it takes to process all the details for Orlando,” said a GM team. “We don’t have that kind of time.”
The Warriors, who have notable veterans with championship pedigree, including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, agreed to participate if the bubble concept came true, said general manager Bob Myers, although he did not specify who would be on the roster.
“Our position is:” Let us know what’s possible, “” said Myers. “Until we really know, it’s hard to say. If we can get most of our players to go, and if it’s beneficial, then we will. If we can’t, we’ll take what we can get. All of this is about balance. between health and safety: from the team’s point of view, which solutions select as many boxes as possible?
“One of the things is that you try not to judge. Everyone is right in a way. Whether we pursue the opportunity to make our young players work in a safe environment locally or in a second bubble, we are in support of l pursuit. Now that we get there or not it’s really a matter of health and safety. “
While Curry or Thompson is very unlikely to play in Chicago, there are a number of young players – such as Hawks star Trae Young and Cavaliers star Collin Sexton – who would likely appreciate the opportunity.
The second bubble will be created at a substantial cost which will be divided among the 30 teams, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The idea of providing the eight non-playoff teams with the options to play was born out of the fear that the long layoff would have a negative impact on young players whose continuous development is essential for their franchises. Most teams favored a mini-pitch within their market and then a week or two of games against other NBA clubs.
Roberts backed away, insisting that it was not fair to treat 22 teams in one way, with rigorous daily tests, quarantine requirements and personal sacrifice and to allow the other eight teams to design their own rules.
A general manager reported that his players were indeed relieved to learn that their bubble would also require daily tests, such as in Orlando.
The NBA discussed installing the bubble in Chicago with around two weeks of testing, then four games per team. Participation in the bubble would be voluntary, sources said.
“You probably won’t see Blake Griffin and guys like that,” said a GM, “but I bet some veterans will show it. These guys lack basketball. They want to play.”
On Thursday, Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot issued an Emergency Travel Order, in effect on Monday, directing travelers entering or returning to Chicago from states that have suffered a wave of new COVID-19 cases being quarantined for a period of 14 days. The quarantine covers Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
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