Teams such as the Knicks and Bulls will create campus-like environments in their home marketsNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The NBA and NBPA finalized an agreement on a program for each of the eight teams that did not participate in the league's season restart in Orlando to engage in voluntary group workouts at their team facilities while residing in a campus-like environment under controlled conditions. The program, scheduled to take place from Sept. 14-Oct. 6, will be implemented in phases. Player participation in individual and group workouts and training activities is voluntary (NBA). ESPN.com's Tim Bontemps noted the program will include "comprehensive health and safety protocols" for all players, coaches and team staff taking part. The eight teams left out of the Orlando restart -- the Hawks, Hornets, Bulls, Cavaliers, Pistons, Warriors, T'Wolves and Knicks -- have "repeatedly advocated for the chance to work with their players sometime before the start of next season." Each team "will create a 'campus-like environment' in its home city to mimic what the teams in Orlando" have done (ESPN.com, 8/18). In N.Y., Marc Berman writes the teams left out of Orlando have "long vied to have these sort of organized training activities because they hadn't been together since March 11." Participants in the program "must not stray from either the facility or the living quarters" (N.Y. POST, 8/19).
FAITH IN ITS APPROACH: In N.Y., Sopan Deb writes the announcement of the program by the league is an "indication that the NBA has faith in its approach and feels comfortable expanding it." It is "not clear where the home city campuses would be" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/19). In DC, Ben Golliver writes "extensive deliberations" from the NBA and NBPA "included the possibility of hosting a small-scale tournament at a second bubble." But the two sides "instead settled on terms that will allow the eight teams to host group practices, conditioning work and intrasquad scrimmages" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/19).
HOW MANY WILL PARTICIPATE? In San Jose, Michael Nowels writes it "seems fairly unlikely that the Warriors' big-name players will be involved in the camps." The Warriors "could certainly use the camp to develop some of its role players, but it remains to be seen how many will choose to travel to the Bay Area and stay inside a campus environment just for team practices" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 8/19). In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell writes it is "far from a given that all players will agree to be part of group workouts." For instance, many players becoming free agents in mid-October "could be reluctant to participate." Also, some players "might not be in Charlotte or might choose not to participate over health concerns" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/19). Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Sarah Spencer writes the OTAs "will likely be advantageous for young teams like the Hawks, who want their young players to continue developing and get reps as a team" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/19). In Detroit, Rod Beard writes it is "not a second bubble, but the Pistons will get much of the same benefit anyway." The Pistons have several pending free agents, but it is "unclear how many of those free agents will choose to participate in the group workouts" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/19). In Chicago, Johnson & Schaefer noted the Bulls will "use the Advocate Center and follow league-mandated safety protocols for their back-and-forth to private residences" during the program (NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.com, 8/18).
