How NBA practice facilities will open under the state’s coronavirus restrictions
NBA teams are putting protocols in place to safely reopen practice facilities, but it’s unknown when the league’s four California teams will get the green light in the gradual process to roll back restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that California is moving into Stage 2 of the state’s four-phase plan to ease restrictions, allowing retail, manufacturing and other low-risk businesses to reopen beginning Friday. Stage 3 will involve reopening places like hair salons, gyms, theaters and churches, and allowing for sports without live audiences. Live-audience sporting events won’t be permitted until Stage 4.
NBA teams might not be able to return to their practice facilities until the third stage in the governor’s plan, but the Golden State Warriors are preparing for that possibility now. Raymond Ridder, the team’s senior vice president of communications, said the Warriors are developing plans in consultation with city leaders in San Francisco.
“At this time, we are focused on creating operational protocols for the safe return of our players and staff to the practice facility, regardless of what stage we are in or approaching,” Ridder told The Sacramento Bee. “We are sharing these plans with our city officials. Beyond that, we will leave it up to our local officials as to what phase that falls in.”
The Kings have said their facilities will remain closed until further notice. They are working with the NBA to “review all options for return to play in consultation with public health officials and in line with governmental directives and guidance,” but they haven’t addressed Newsom’s plan or the possibility of reopening their practice facility.
The NBA will allow teams to reopen training facilities beginning Friday in cities where restrictions have been lifted. Those teams include the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz.
Teams in some NBA cities will still be under shelter-in-place orders. That list includes the Kings, Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
Sources told The Athletic all four California teams are hoping to convince Newsom to allow them to open practice facilities in Stage 2, possibly with help from mayors in their respective cities. ESPN and The Athletic reported Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and team legal counsel are lobbying Los Angeles health officials to reopen their El Segundo training facility.
The Athletic also reported the NBA issued guidelines for opening practice facilities in a 19-page memo sent to all 30 teams. Anyone entering the building will have their temperature taken, players will be required to wear masks except when engaged in physical activity and only individual workouts will be allowed, among other provisions.
Draft preparation
The NBA announced Friday it has postponed the 2020 draft lottery and combine, both of which were scheduled to take place later this month in Chicago. The draft, planned for June 25, could be postponed as well, but the league has not taken that step yet.
Kings general manager Vlade Divac and assistant general manager Peja Stojakovic are overseeing the teams’ draft preparation. Kings coach Luke Walton will get more involved as the draft draws near — whenever that happens — but for now he remains focused on the current roster and the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
“I’ve talked to Vlade and Peja about it and they’re working with the scouts every day, and they’re kind of putting a list together,” Walton said in a recent conference call with reporters. “For me, we’ve decide for me, what’s best is to continue to focus on this group and staying ready and staying present on top of looking for what may come. As we get more information, as their list gets shorter on who we really like as players, then I’ll start dedicating some of the time to watching film that we have on those guys.”
2020-21 season
In addition to postponing the NBA draft lottery and combine, the NBA’s board of governors has discussed delaying the start of the 2020-21 season until December, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The league is reportedly talking about pushing back the start of the season whether the 2019-20 season is resumed or not. Sources told ESPN a later start date would give the NBA more time to get fans back into arenas for as many games as possible.
