2019-20 NBA: 2nd Half

[RIPPA]

The NBA has told teams and the NBAPA to a condensed 2020-2021 season (this isn't really a surprise)

Tentatively - the season would start Dec 1, 2020 (camps starting Nov 10) so the offseason would only be 2 months

Another factor - with the Olympics now scheduled for July 2021 - if NBA players were to participate the Finals would need to be over before July 23, 2021

If the NBA followed its normal season pattern - the Finals wouldn't end until a week after the Olympics started

[SorceressKnight]

The one positive to the Olympics thing would be that the NBA is so international now that if the NBA couldn't send its players due to the playoffs, every country's national team would have a disadvantage this time- maybe not to "the US willingly only sends college players vs. everyone else's pros", but still a slight disadvantage.

Though, it would be interesting if it became "'only NBA players who missed the playoffs can join their national team" and how that changes the landscape of the Olympics, since the truly world-class players would likely be good enough their team makes the playoffs.

[RIPPA]

Quote

As a faction of NBA players hold conference calls to discuss uncertainty about restarting the season in the Orlando, Florida, bubble, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association are agreeing on a plan that would allow players to stay home without consequences, sources told ESPN.

There were 40 to 50 players on and off a conference call in the past 24 hours discussing a number of concerns centered on the restart in Orlando, but there has been no formal petitioning to the NBPA from any group wanting out of the 22-team resumption, sources said.

As players have started to come to terms with the restrictive and isolated nature of the Orlando bubble --- including no visitors until after the first round of the playoffs, nearly seven weeks after the opening of mid-July training camp -- there has been increased dialogue about the prudence of restarting the season for a number of players, especially those on non-championship contenders, sources said.

Executives and coaches around the NBA have had significant concern about how players will adapt to an environment unlike any they've ever experienced and how those hurdles could impact the sustained competitive drive for teams. Many have worried, too, especially on teams that aren't title contenders, if some players will start to seek avenues to bypass the resumption altogether.

Players are citing a number of concerns, including family situations, the inability to leave the Disney World Resort campus, the coronavirus pandemic and the implications surrounding the emergence of social justice causes in the country, sources said. Participants in Orlando -- including players -- will not be allowed to leave the bubble environment without a 10-day quarantine upon their return to the Disney grounds, sources said.

Players with medical issues that might put them in high-risk categories could seek an independent examination to learn whether they would be excused from participation, sources said. Even those told that they're fit to play would be allowed to bow out of Orlando, but without pay for the final eight regular-season games, sources said.

Players deciding against the Orlando resumption would not be paid for missed games, sources said. The league started withholding 25% of players' paychecks on June 15 because of the force majeure provision in the collective bargaining agreement that will repay teams for canceled games.

Players who decide against participating in Orlando could be replaced by a substitution player, sources told ESPN. The NBA plans to allow replacements for players who test positive for the coronavirus or suffer injuries, sources said. Those players who are replaced become ineligible for the rest of the 2019-20 season, sources said.

The NBA and NBPA have been working around the clock this week to finalize the terms of the restart. They hoped to have a term sheet and a health and safety protocol guide available to teams and players this week, sources said.

Wojo's latest

[RIPPA]

Harry Glickman - who was the founder of the Portland Trail Blazers and also the GM for the team's only championship - has passed away at the age of 96

[Zimbra]

More like Yoked-ic, amirite?

He and Harden were the two dudes I would have figured would come back out of shape from the hiatus and both look to be in great shape.

[Lawful Metal]

God I hope this is true.  Gerald Green on the Rockets is only natural.  That dude is Houston.  He got an I-45 tattoo!

[Dolfan in NYC]

For what it's worth, the report is that the season will now start on 7/30 and teams can carry up to 17 players. 

I'm not sure if that means a team can sign a guy or two off the teams who's seasons are over (and are out of contract). 

 

[Lawful Metal]

Rockets can sign Klay and Steph? 

[Brian Fowler]

1 hour ago, Dolfan in NYC said:

For what it's worth, the report is that the season will now start on 7/30 and teams can carry up to 17 players. 

I'm not sure if that means a team can sign a guy or two off the teams who's seasons are over (and are out of contract). 

 

Word I saw on contracts is that the deadlines and expiration dates are being pushed to the same number of days after the last possible finals game they would've been anyway. 

So, in other words, Andre Drummond can't opt out of his player option and sign with the Lakers for the restart.

[Dolfan in NYC]

 

 

[Zimbra]

Disney has responded (off the record) that they're still figuring out their protocols but this seems bad.

Also sounds like a non-trivial number of players aren't happy with the restart plans and are even more upset that only union reps got a vote on it instead of the wider player base.

[Dolfan in NYC]

And here we go...

 

 

[Kuetsar]

Yeah, there is not going to be a restart to the season, I don't think. Cue wildcat strike in 3. . . .2 . . .1. 

[Dolfan in NYC]

Kyrie is organizing a conference call tonight to discuss the option of not playing with other like-minded players.   

Oh boy...

[RIPPA]

This was from Wojo yesterday

Quote

As a faction of NBA players hold conference calls to discuss uncertainty about restarting the season in the bubble in Orlando, Florida, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association are agreeing on a plan that would allow players to stay home without consequences, sources told ESPN.

There were 40 to 50 players on conference calls over the past 24 hours discussing a number of concerns centered on the restart in Orlando, but there has been no formal petitioning to the NBPA from any group wanting out of the 22-team resumption, sources said.

As players have started to come to terms with the restrictive and isolated nature of the Orlando bubble --- including no visitors until after the first round of the playoffs, nearly seven weeks after the opening of mid-July training camp -- there has been increased dialogue about the prudence of restarting the season for a number of players, especially those on non-championship contenders, sources said.

Executives and coaches around the NBA have had significant concerns about how players will adapt to an environment unlike any they've ever experienced and how those hurdles could impact the sustained competitive drive for teams. Many have worried, too, especially on teams that aren't title contenders, whether some players will start to seek avenues to bypass the resumption altogether.

Players are citing a number of concerns, including family situations, the inability to leave the Disney World Resort campus, the coronavirus pandemic and the implications surrounding the emergence of social justice causes in the country, sources said. Participants in Orlando -- including players -- will not be allowed to leave the bubble environment without a 10-day quarantine upon their return to the Disney grounds, sources said.

Players with medical issues that might put them in high-risk categories could seek an independent examination to learn whether they would be excused from participation, sources said. Even those told that they're fit to play would be allowed to bow out of Orlando, but without pay for the final eight regular-season games, sources said.

Players deciding against the Orlando resumption would not be paid for missed games, sources said. The league started withholding 25% of players' paychecks on June 15 because of the force majeure provision in the collective bargaining agreement that will repay teams for canceled games.

Players who decide against participating in Orlando could be replaced by a substitution player, sources told ESPN. The NBA plans to allow replacements for players who test positive for the coronavirus or suffer injuries, sources said. Those players who are replaced become ineligible for the rest of the 2019-20 season, sources said.

The NBA and NBPA have been working around the clock this week to finalize the terms of the restart. They hoped to have a term sheet and a health and safety protocol guide available to teams and players this week, sources said.

 

[Zimbra]

From reading all of the reporting it sounds like you can break down the players with concerns into three main groups: those who aren't comfortable with the isolation, those that think the NBA isn't doing enough to protect player/staff health, and those who think the timing of the restart will distract from the protests/push for social change.  With, I'm sure, a fair bit of overlap between the three.

I'm not sure how they go ahead while addressing the concerns of all three groups but allowing players to opt-out without penalty beyond missing checks is probably a good start.

[RIPPA]

Quote

When the National Basketball Players Association conducted a conference call and vote on restarting the season a week ago, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was an active participant -- although his questions were of a mundane nature.

Sources say Irving asked, as an injured player, if he would count among the Nets' allotted 35 people should he want to join the Orlando, Florida, bubble. Could he sit in the stands to cheer on his teammates? Use a sauna for his rehab?

He had a question about NBA sponsors on campus, and whether they would be supplying players with products. A union official asked him for an example, and Irving mentioned a popular adult beverage -- before insisting that he had indeed simply shared an example -- and wondered what food might be provided to players under league partnerships.

All in all, his inquiries weren't of weighty consequence.

There were two dozen-plus team representatives and several more executive committee members on the call, and Irving's stature as one of the NBPA's six elected vice presidents, in addition to his credentials as an NBA champion and All-Star Game MVP, elevated him among those peers voting on the call. The final tally: 28-0.

Looking back, the call itself was much less a discussion on the merits of restarting the season, and much more a Q&A with NBPA executive director Michele Roberts and president Chris Paul on the mechanics and rules expected to govern teams, players and the bubble environment, sources said.

So, yes, it surprised several of his NBPA colleagues that Irving -- lost for the season with shoulder surgery in March -- was simultaneously lending his voice to a far different discussion with rank-and-file union members on upending the league's plans for a 22-team restart at Disney World in Orlando, sources said.

On a call that included nearly 100 players and several stars on Friday night, Irving made an impassioned plea for players to make a stand and sit out the season's resumption in Orlando, sources said. Around 90 minutes in length, the call included several players suggesting they'd be willing to sit out the season -- and numerous more discussing social issues, league economics and, ultimately, a sense that they needed to be united in a decision.

Where it leads the NBA now remains unclear. Even after the call, there was still a belief within the league that the NBA would have the players' support it needed to resume the season, but no one could be as sure as they seemed to be a mere week ago.

Irving, 28, has forged a reputation as a disruptor within his career, and that's emerging again at this crucial moment for the NBA. Irving's stance has pitted him against the league's establishment, including his former Cavaliers teammate LeBron James, once again. There's significant support to resume the season among the league's superstars -- most of whom are on playoff contenders -- and Irving seems to be relishing the clash.

"I'm not as interested in him as the messenger than I am in the message," one Western Conference player told ESPN on Friday. In some instances in the past several days, Irving has assured some in the NBPA that he's aligned with the broader plan surrounding the league's return in Orlando -- and then directed a far more skeptical tone to players he has engaged with within the Nets and across the league, sources said.

In recent days, Irving has been one of the prominent player voices tapping into the hearts, minds and ambitions of his peers in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody. Players are discussing everything now -- from the limitations of freedom in the proposed bubble, the value of the remaining season for many teams and players, the risk of sickness and injury, and yes, the pain, anguish and determination of communities throughout the country on the issues of police brutality and racial inequality.

While many players are arguing that these discussions would benefit from the global stage a resumption of play would offer, with the eyes of the world turning to Orlando, the argument hasn't been so simple for some players.

"Once we start playing basketball again, the news will turn from systemic racism to who did what in the game last night. It's a crucial time for us to be able to play and blend that and impact what's happening in our communities," one widely respected NBA player told ESPN. "We are asking ourselves, 'Where and how can we make the biggest impact?' Mental health is part of the discussion too, and how we handle all of that in a bubble."

The limitations of the NBA bubble form a significant part of players' uncertainty, too. There appear to be players who will choose to stay home, but how many? And for what ultimate reasons? Several players who have participated in these recent calls and conversations told ESPN that they're still leaning toward playing in Orlando but want to keep listening and talking about a number of the factors that concern them.

As they're talking to each other, many players are hearing stern warnings from their agents -- especially on the financial implications of a lost season. Agents have spent the latter stages of this week delivering foreboding warnings on the short- and long-term financial impact if the season gets blown up.

Players are already losing an estimated $300 million in salary, and terminating the rest of the season would cost another 25% of salary with owners exercising the force majeure provision. That's on top of losing an additional 10% held in escrow that would be lost to the league, too. NBA players would stand to lose $1.2 billion in salary this season.

There exist larger fears for next season. The NBA has the ability to terminate the collective bargaining agreement that already includes a mutual opt-out in 2022-23. Already, the NBA and NBPA have to negotiate a long list of financial and competitive items to account for the loss of revenue, but agents expect that the league would react to the cancellation of this season by blowing up the CBA, locking out the players and moving to implement a more unfavorable financial share of basketball-related income, which is now essentially a 50-50 split.

The NBA has its superstars on board for a resumption, but it needs a broader base of its players to be fully committed to Orlando. Before Friday night's call, Irving had become far less communicative with the executive committee and union leadership and far more engaged with the rank-and-file membership.

For a superstar who had counted himself out of the season, suddenly, the clock's ticking down and the ball is back in Irving's hands.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29304500/sources-kyrie-irving-play-key-role-friday-call-players

[Infinit]

One year ago today, the Raptors became World Champions.

 

[Lawful Metal]

Reminder:

And he’s a quitter

 

[Infinit]

How many Finals MVPs does Kawhi have?

[RIPPA]

Quote

Among the dissenting voices on the call that featured nearly 100 players were Lakers backup center Dwight Howard and starting shooting guard Avery Bradley, sources told ESPN. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving was a driving influence on the call.

The Lakers were initially concerned that Howard planned to sit out the rest of the season to focus on the social injustices facing Black and African-Americans in this country based on the sentiments he shared on the call and the subsequent statement he issued, sources told ESPN.

Howard's agent, Charles Briscoe, told ESPN on Sunday that his client hasn't made a decision about playing basketball again this season because basketball is the furthest thing from his mind at this moment.

Howard's statement, provided through his agent, to CNN on Saturday (edited below for clarity) was interpreted by some as if the former three-time Defensive Player of the Year did not plan to play:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29311351/lakers-players-say-there-figure-things-ahead-restart

[Lawful Metal]

25 years ago today. There will never be another Dream. 

Jesus that footwork. Two Dream Shakes and a three Just in this clip. Against Shaq.

Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion. 

[sabremike]

On 6/13/2020 at 12:26 PM, Infinit said:

One year ago today, the Raptors became World Champions.

 

Fun fact: I watched the game on the jumbotron at Tim Hortons Field after the Ticats home opener (They aired the game and invited people to come out onto the field to stay and watch).

[RIPPA]

Quote

National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts said the players she represents spent the weekend discussing how they could best use "our obvious influence -- either by playing or not playing -- to make sure we enhance and move this movement forward" rather than distracting from it.

After nearly 100 NBA players participated in a call Friday night, in which Brooklyn Nets guard and NBPA vice president Kyrie Irving made a case against resuming the season in Orlando in late July, Roberts said players have spent the weekend considering how the league's return might affect the Black Lives Matter movement.

"It's not a question of play or not play," Roberts told ESPN. "It's a question of, does playing again harm a movement that we absolutely, unequivocally embrace? And then whether our play can, in fact, highlight, encourage and enhance this movement?

"That's what they're talking about. They're not fighting about it; they're talking about it."

Several players on the call Friday said they were considering sitting out the remainder of the season in order to focus on social justice issues, or because they were uncomfortable with the proposed plans to resume the season with 22 teams in a campus-like environment in Orlando, sources said.

Others argued that the NBA can bring more attention to the movement by playing and using the league's platforms afforded them once the season resumes.

For example, Roberts has mentioned to several players that one of the most powerful examples of athletes using their platform to protest and promote social change came in 1968, when American runners John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised black-gloved fists while on the medal stand at the Summer Olympics.

In order to be on the podium for that iconic moment, Roberts said, both men had to run -- and win -- their 200-meter race.

As such, Roberts said she's urged each player to make his own decision on whether it feels appropriate or comfortable to play, because it is such a personal decision for each player.

ESPN's reporting with players, agents, the NBPA and league officials over the weekend found no indication that the NBA's return is in jeopardy -- or that there's even a significant group of players ready to sit out.

There are expected to be some players who decide not to play, sources said, but so far there's no indication that it's enough to compromise the league's plans to return, which have already been approved by the owners (29-1) and team representatives (28-0).

The NBA is preparing the release of two documents to teams early this week, sources said: a side letter of agreement to changes in the collective bargaining agreement to accommodate the 22-team restart to the season, and a 125-page health and safety manual detailing the step-by-step protocols from June workouts, July training camps through the regular season, and playoff games through October in Orlando.

Nearly all of the key elements to both documents have been shared to teams and reported for weeks, although the NBA and NBPA will continue negotiations on items such as insurance protections for players in Orlando and possible offseason training camp and OTAs for the eight teams left out of the restart at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort, sources said.

One agreement finalized in recent days includes the NBA prorating performance bonuses and incentives using March 11 as the end date of the regular season -- eliminating the eight additional seeding games in Orlando as part of the formula, sources said.

For Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid, it means he'll meet the minutes-played criteria needed to fully guarantee the final three years and nearly $95 million on his $148 million maximum contract, sources said.

Embiid signed a five-year, $148 million deal extension in 2017 that included financial protections for the Sixers had Embiid suffered career-ending injuries involving his back or feet. Those protections are moot now; Embiid has shown his durability and his All-NBA production has actually outsized his contract.

Embiid needed 1,650 minutes this season to fully guarantee the contract, but prorated over the Sixers' 65 games that lowered the requirement to below the 1,329 minutes he had played this season.

Several players on the call Friday expressed frustration at the time it has taken to get answers on details that affect players' financial futures, and on the specifics of how health and safety protocols will be enforced during training camp in their home markets and once teams arrive in Orlando.

Some players have privately questioned whether star players will be held to the same quarantine standards as role players, which the NBA and NBPA have insisted would be the case, sources said.

That process became cumbersome, because those protocols were being collectively bargained by a joint task force of players, union leaders and league executives, while in consultation with public health experts retained by both the league and union.

Roberts led hourlong Zoom sessions with each of the 30 teams in recent weeks that detailed elements of the bubble environment and finances surrounding a return-to-play. The calls spanned approximately two weeks, so those teams near the end of the process had more up-to-the-moment information than those at the beginning of the list.

Besides conference calls with the broader body of individual player agents, Roberts had smaller group calls with those running larger-scale agencies, representing a bigger swath of the union's membership. Agents and the union are often aligned on issues, given both are in business to serve the players.

NBPA president Chris Paul joined Irving's call Friday night, and he told members more than once that they were certainly free to make personal choices on playing again, but they did need to consider and understand the financial implications of staying home, sources said.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was not a part of the call Friday, having previously made his position clear. According to sources with knowledge of James' thinking, he believes he can effect social change -- and amplify his impact while playing -- as he did in 2014 when he called for Donald Sterling's removal from the NBA and in 2012 when James and his teammates with the Miami Heat wore hoodies in response to the death of Trayvon Martin.

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley seemed to suggest James' position will prevail, tweeting on Sunday that if James "said he hooping. We all hooping."

In the NBA and NBPA agreement, players choosing to not join their teams in the bubble will not be penalized by teams, but they will lose payment on games missed -- 1/92nd of the money owed them, sources said.

For players who believe they have a medical reason that elevates them into a higher-risk COVID-19 category and want to be excused with pay, the NBA and NBPA have set up an independent doctors panel to evaluate the player and make a determination, sources said.

Even if the player is pronounced healthy enough to play without a heightened risk, he is still able to stay home -- only without pay, sources said.

 

[MavsFan77]

Looking at the career playoff stats for the four players that are generally regarded as being the best current players in the league paints an interesting picture. The stats obviously don’t include this season as the playoffs haven’t happened yet.

Kawhi Leonard: 7 playoff Appearances in 8 seasons, 3 NBA Finals Appearances, 2 NBA Finals Wins, 2 NBA Finals MVP awards, 19.5 ppg playoffs, 7.7 rpg playoffs, 2.4 apg playoffs 

Lebron James: 13 playoff Appearances in 16 seasons, 6 NBA Finals Appearances, 3 NBA Finals Wins, 3 NBA Finals MVP awards, 28.9 ppg playoffs, 8.9 rpg playoffs, 7.1 apg playoffs 

James Harden: 10 playoff Appearances in 10 seasons, 1 NBA Finals Appearance, 0 NBA titles, 0 NBA Finals MVP awards, 22.9 ppg playoffs, 5.4 rpg playoffs, 5.6 apg playoffs 

Giannis Antetokounmpo: 4 Playoff Appearances in 6 seasons, 0 NBA Finals Appearances, 0 NBA Titles, 0 NBA Finals MVP Awards, 23 ppg playoffs, 10.3 rpg playoffs, 4.6 apg playoffs 

How anyone can look at those numbers, and try declaring any of the other 3 are better playoff players than Kawhi is beyond me. The only season he missed the playoffs was the one where he was hurt for 95% of it. But hey let’s overvalue the guy from Houston having made the Finals in his third season while being carried by Russ and KD. Or Lebron for making the Finals, and having to be bailed out by Ray Allen in order to beat Kawhi and The Spurs, and for having to oversell a nut shot from Draymond to screw the Warriors out of a championship. 

Edited June 15, 2020 by MavsFan77