A look at possible Lakers and Clippers opponents when NBA season resumes

If all goes according to plan — and in today’s world, all plans are currently subject to change — 22 of the NBA’s 30 teams will resume 2019-20 season play this summer. Including, of course, Los Angeles’ two championship-contending teams, the Lakers and Clippers. Here’s the OC Register with a look at what’s in store for them when action does resume:

Who will the Clippers and Lakers play?

For the eight games ahead of the playoffs, every team will pick up its schedule where they left off. When a game comes up against a team that isn’t one of the 22 invited to Orlando, or against a team that’s already played its final eight games, they’ll skip over that opponent and move on to the next.

The Lakers are one of four teams — along with Miami, Orlando and Portland — whose remaining schedule won’t accommodate eight games by the conclusion of their schedule. The league conceivably will fill in those teams’ final games by pitting them against one another, although that’s not been determined officially.

So the Lakers’ schedule will look like this: Rockets, Nuggets, Jazz, Jazz, Raptors, Pacers, (and possibly the Trail Blazers, Heat or Magic).

The Clippers’ seeding schedule: Nets, Pelicans, Mavericks, Nuggets, Suns, Nets, Pacers, Thunder.

NBA play at the single “quarantine bubble” location of Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando will hopefully begin around July 31.

NBA working out details regarding roster depth in return to play plan

The NBA continues to make plans for league play to resume with 22 teams at Disney World in Orlando this summer. But part of the process is preparing for what might go wrong. One issue is if a team finds itself in need of additional players, as replacements due to injury, sickness, or simply for additional roster depth. Via the Deseret News:

According to reports by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks, the league is planning on having a one-week ‘transaction window’ for all 30 NBA teams beginning on June 22, ahead of the tentative July 31 resumption of games, in which teams can fill open roster spots, sign or waive players, and convert two-way deals to standard NBA contracts…

According to Wojnarowski, teams are pushing back on the league’s preference to limit rosters to 15 players and to leave two-way players out of the bubble unless they are converted to a standard NBA contract before the team arrives in Orlando.

Teams would prefer to have two-way players on hand while in Florida so that if a player suffers an injury or becomes infected with the coronavirus after the ‘transaction window’, a two-way player could be made a substitute without having to go through quarantine before joining the team.

For now, the plan is for action to resume on July 31. We can’t wait.

A reminder of big things Bradley Beal had been doing for Wizards this season

Here’s NBC Sports Washington with a reminder of how well Wizards guard Bradley Beal was playing this season before league play was put on hold March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic:

Right after a game against the Cavs on Feb. 21 in which he went 1-for-10 from three, Beal took off to average 37.5 points and 6.1 assists in his final 10 games. He did that while shooting 48.1 percent from three on a ridiculous 10.8 attempts.

It started with two 50-point games on back-to-back nights, making him the first player since Kobe Bryant in 2007 to accomplish the feat. That included 55 points against the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks. Beal also dropped 42 in a game during that 10-game stretch, and in his last outing put 39 on the Knicks.

Beal’s scoring barrage went back to January where soon after returning from injury he caught fire, averaging 35.5 points across 23 games. He also averaged 5.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and shot 40.4 percent from three on 9.3 attempts per game.

The surge began with seven straight games of 34-plus points. Of the 23 games, he dropped 30 or more 17 times, 40 or more six times and 50 or more twice.

Along the way in that 23-game burst, Beal raised his season scoring average from 27.2 points per game to 30.5, placing him second in the NBA and only behind James Harden. Beal is only 1.2 points away setting the franchise’s single-season record, held by Walt Bellamy who averaged 31.6 in 1961-62, the first year of the franchise’s existence.

The NBA has named 22 teams that will resume play on a modified schedule this summer in July, and the Wizards are one of those teams.

Beal’s other star backcourt mate, John Wall, has been injured and, for now, isn’t expected to make his return until 2020-21.

With Wall not having played at all this season, after Beal’s 30.5 points per game leading Wizards scorers have been forward Davis Bertans at 15.4 ppg and rookie Rui Hachimura at 13.4 ppg.

No LaMarcus Aldridge for Spurs at Disney World this summer

Along with 21 other teams, th Spurs are going to Disney World this summer. This assuming the NBA’s plan gets put into place, with league play resuming in modified fashion in late July at Disney Wide World of Sports, featuring a handful of regular season games leading into what will hopefully be a full playoffs.

But the Spurs will be doing so without one of their star players. After undergoing surgery today, power forward LaMarcus Aldridge won’t be playing again until the 2020-21 season, which may not start until December, though that is completely up in the air right now.

Read full details by clicking this link: LaMarcus Aldridge undergoes shoulder surgery, done for 2019-20 NBA season

Will Pat Riley not join the Heat at Disney Wide World of Sports this summer?

The NBA this past week nailed down their format for the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, to take place at Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando this summer. But there is plenty left to figure out. From major things like an exact schedule to smaller details like the very exact number of people each team is allowed to bring into the quarantine bubble setting.

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra:

As part of the NBA’s plan to resume the league in a quarantine-like setting is limiting team traveling parties, including players and coaches, to an estimated 35 or so when competition resumes in the absence of fans at the Wide World of Sports complex on the Disney World campus just outside of Orlando.

Already, the league is debating whether players on two-way contracts will be included, which for the Heat could limit the development of guard Gabe Vincent and forward Kyle Alexander. Beyond that, there figure to be difficult decisions with support staff.

“The only thing I’ll say about that is I don’t want to term anything ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’ staff,” Spoelstra said, limited in his allowable comments, with the NBA’s plan yet to be finalized. “That’s not fair to any of our staff members. These are extreme circumstances. We will plan and act accordingly when we get to that point.” …

With the NBA projecting the season’s resumption will run from July 31 to a potential Oct. 12 Game 7 of the NBA Finals, it could leave the team separated from Heat president Pat Riley for months.

At 75, Riley stands in a high-risk category of contracting COVID-19.

This sort of thing will be a heavy discussion topic in the coming weeks. Better safe than sorry, is a good rule of thumb.

After such details are worked out, and decisions are finalized, and the focus becomes actual basketball games again, it’ll be a very good time.

NBA Players Union statement on NBA return to play plan

The NBA Players Association likes what the NBA has come up with so far in their plan to resume play in late January at Disney Wide World of Sports with most of the league’s teams, but there’s clearly more that needs to be worked out.

Their statement today as as follows:

“The Board of Player Representatives of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has approved further negotiations with the NBA on a 22-team return to play scenario to restart the 2019-20 NBA season. Various details remain to be negotiated and the acceptance of the scenario would still require that all parties reach agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play.”

NCAA sets date for basketball players to withdraw from 2020 NBA draft

NCAA BASKETBALL STATEMENT

Men’s basketball student-athletes will have until 10 days after the NBA draft combine or Aug. 3, whichever comes first, to withdraw from the postponed 2020 NBA draft and retain their eligibility.

Due to the uncertainty of the NBA’s pre-draft process brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee decided Aug. 3 allows a reasonable amount of time for all men’s basketball student-athletes to make a choice about starting a professional career.

This option provides student-athletes up to two months beyond the original withdrawal date of June 3 to decide.

The goal of the decision is to match the intent of the current rule, which offers players the opportunity to be evaluated by and seek feedback from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee and to participate in team workouts and the draft combine if invited.

The Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee worked collaboratively with the National Association of Basketball Coaches to ensure that these changes support a player’s decision-making process related to professional opportunities, while also protecting their collegiate eligibility.

Since it is undetermined what the NBA pre-draft process and timeline may be this summer, the oversight committee believes this is the most equitable alternative available in these unprecedented circumstances.

“This provides the utmost flexibility to student-athletes testing the waters to make the most informed decision about their future during this uncertain time,” NCAA Senior Vice President for Basketball Dan Gavitt said. “And by deciding before classes start for the fall semester, it also encourages student-athletes who choose to return to school to be fully engaged in their academic pursuits and the tremendous experience and opportunity to play college basketball.”

Atlanta Hawks statement on NBA return to play plan

STATEMENT FROM THE ATLANTA HAWKS

Yesterday the NBA announced a format to restart the 2019-20 season with 22 teams participating. This certainly wasn’t how we hoped our season would come to an end, and it’s fair to say that we are disappointed that our young team will not be allowed to gain more valuable time playing together by being included in the restart of the season. With that said, we understand and respect the countless difficult factors that entered into this decision for the league, and we realize that there are much more important things taking place in our community right now that deserve our attention.

We would like to recognize and thank our players for their dedication, connectedness and patience during this unprecedented time. We saw promising growth during the season and significant improvement individually and collectively from the start of the campaign through March 11. Since that time, our players, with the support of our coaching and athletic training staffs, have been diligent and professional in staying prepared, in the hopes of having the opportunity to restart their season and finish strong.

We remain engaged in finding ways for our team to compete and continue the important growth and development that was a core focus for our team this season.

Timberwolves statement on NBA return to play plan

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas today issued the following statement regarding the NBA’s decision to resume the 2019-20 NBA season with 22 teams playing in Orlando, Florida:

“While we are disappointed for our team and our fans that our season is coming to an end, we understand and accept the league’s plan to move forward with 22 teams. It is important that we be a good teammate not only to the NBA, but to the other 29 teams to support the efforts to complete this season and prepare for next season in a healthy and safe manner.

“Our offseason program will be intensive and thorough to make sure our players continue their development and are prepared for the start of the 2020-21 season. Our Head Coach Ryan Saunders, his assistants and our performance staff will be creative, aggressive and proactive to deal with a period of inactivity that we have not dealt with before. We built good momentum as a team following the trade deadline and our basketball staff will diligently continue to work through our team building processes, including the draft and free agency, as we continue to look for ways to improve our team during this pivotal offseason.

“We will also use this offseason to work tirelessly to help our community heal, to influence change and to promote thoughtful actions in response to recent events.”

Bulls statement on NBA return to play plan

Chicago Bulls President and COO Michael Reinsdorf and Executive Vice President and Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas released the following statements Thursday in response to the NBA’s plan for the rest of the 2019-20 season:

MICHAEL REINSDORF: “It is disappointing that we will not return to play for the 2019-20 season, but ultimately this decision is about more than just one team. We are supportive of Commissioner Adam Silver and the outcome of the vote by the NBA Board of Governors. We thank Adam and his team for their thoughtful work in exploring all available options to come up with a solution that allows the NBA as a league to resume. They spent countless hours having open dialogue with leaders and experts across various industries, as well as team executives, listening and educating themselves to ensure the NBA made the best, safest decision for the league and our players during these unprecedented times.

“We will now shift our focus to continue to build our team under the new leadership of Arturas Karnisovas and our Basketball Operations Department with a focus on the Draft, free agency and offseason development. To our fans and the great city of Chicago: We thank you for your continued support. Keep moving forward with us as we prepare to return to the court for the 2020-21 season.”

ARTURAS KARNISOVAS: “To be included in the plan to restart the 2019-20 season would have been a positive for our players and their development, but we understand the need to compromise and we support the decision made today by the NBA Board of Governors. We are disappointed that our season is over and there won’t be opportunities to see our team or players in game action, but we will be creative in discovering new opportunities to support their growth as we prepare for the next season. Commissioner Adam Silver had the difficult responsibility to develop the best option for the league, and I commend him for the job he has done, particularly given the extraordinary circumstances.”