The Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman and the medical staff informed players that the NBA practice facility will be open on Friday. This is big news and an indication that the NBA might resume play soon.
Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Practice Facility to be Open on Friday
The Cleveland Cavaliers have decided to open their practice facility on Friday. This is according to Chris Fedor, a Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA Reporter, and a sports producer for Advance Ohio.
#Cavs GM Koby Altman and the medical staff informed players on Zoom calls earlier this afternoon that the team will open the practice facility on Friday. J.B. Bickerstaff confirmed that on his call. There are strict guidelines thohttps://t.co/xs5KJPgoaq
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) May 6, 2020
According to NBA Media Reports, only four players will be permitted at a time inside the team’s facility in Independence, Ohio. Also, only one player and one developmental coach with gloves and a mask are permitted to the same basket. This is big news as now it seems possible for the NBA to resume their season.
In Ohio, where the Cleveland Cavaliers play, there have been 20,625 cases and sadly 1,114 deaths according to the Associated Press of 10TV Web Staff.
Other NBA Practice Facilities Opening
The Sacramento Kings plan to open their arena on May 11th. They might be followed up by the Atlanta Hawks next week, according to NBA Media Reports. The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are also looking at reopening their practice facilities.
Unfortunately, for the Dallas Mavericks players, they will have to wait according to their owner Mark Cuban.
“We listen to health experts, not politicians,” Cuban wrote Monday in an email to The Dallas Morning News. “When the NBA provides us with confirmation that it’s safe for our guys to move forward, we will move forward.”
This is the reason Cuban gave for the decision:
He repeated his stance on the topic in the 77 Minutes In Heaven podcast on Wednesday night, saying: “The problem obviously is that because we can’t test people, then we can’t assure anybody’s safety, whether they’re basketball players or anybody else,” Cuban said. “Even though we can try to take all the different kinds of precautions, it’s just not worth it, particularly when our guys are staying in shape and they’re going outside and shooting on outdoor hoops and working out in various ways. So I just don’t think the risk is worth the reward.”
Lastly, according to Chris Foxy of CP24.com, the mayor of Toronto, John Tory was approached by Toronto Raptors officials. Tory said no decision has been made, but to “stay tuned.” The decision has been left for the public health officials to decide.
A big obstacle with opening the practice facility is that many Raptors players left Toronto, following the suspension of the NBA.
Overview of NBA Practice Facilities Opening
The Situation of NBA Practice Facilities Around the League
NBA practice facilities are starting to open around the league. It is good to see and a sign that the NBA might be returning. However, the situation is still fluid in cities like Toronto and Dallas. They both have no timeline for opening their NBA practice facility.
There are also problems with players leaving the city they play for like in Toronto. There might be more info as Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, will hold a meeting with all players on Friday. This is according to Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics.
Celtics center Enes Kanter says Adam Silver will hold a 'special meeting' with all players on Friday to discuss what's next for the NBA.
"NBA is all about player safety and fan safety."
@EnesKanter | @TommyTranTV | @CBSSportsHQ pic.twitter.com/MLR49WHrJz
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) May 7, 2020
Alternatives for NBA Practice Facilities
The NHL, for example, is looking at playing in one city per division according to Elliott Friedman of Sportsnet. This could work in the NBA as teams with open practice facilities. Some NBA teams that do not have practice facilities open can use the practice facilities of other NBA teams that are open.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
