Report: All NBA players need to report back to teams by June 22

UPDATE: June 12 — We’ve got some new information on when players and coaches will be able to interact. So it looks like everyone will need to report by June 22.

Here’s the coronavirus testing window that the NBA will be subject to before the regular season begins on July 30. So that’s a week of testing before training camps are expected to kick off in Orlando. It’ll still be a month before the season starts, so a lot can change by the end of June.

UPDATE: June 11 — The NBA is planning to give teams a few more rosters spots, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday.

This seems like a direct result of players potentially sitting out and deciding not to return for the regular season. If that’s the case, some teams may need to replace them with somebody and with the rosters extended, this could be the way to do it.

UPDATE: June 11 — Woj is also reporting that the start date has changed slightly from Friday, July 31 to Thursday, July 30.

UPDATE: June 11 — The NBA may look into the idea of replacing any players who decide not to return with substitute players, Woj reported Thursday morning.

The NBA will also allow for replacement players to come in if a player is injured or tests positive for COVID-19 while inside the bubble. The more details we get about how things will be handled in this “bubble” the more it seems like things could go wrong. We’ll have to wait and see, but now we have the NBA and MLS potentially both in Disney World at the same time, plus this revolving door if there are injuries and positive tests.

The NBA and NBPA are expected to finalize provision that allows players the choice to return to the regular season in Orlando, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday.

So this won’t punish players for opting to stay home in safety rather than return to play in Orlando on July 31. The players only lose a portion of their salary for choosing not to show up and play, which seems reasonable given the circumstances. Woj also reported that there was a contingent of players who spoke about the idea of not returning to play, which is likely what has sparked the provision.

It will be interesting to see which — if any — players decide to stay at home and not return. There’s less incentive for superstars to risk their health for money that likely isn’t a big chunk of their income. For veterans and players making the MLE, it may be in their best interest. Younger players are less at risk of coronavirus COVID-19 and don’t have responsibilities like a family.