The NBA’s proposed return has certainly not gone off without a hitch but still remains on track. Sunday’s report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Milwaukee Bucks would be the latest team to close their facility after a positive coronavirus test further dampened the mood regarding the restart but has not stopped it.
While the Pelicans themselves had three positive tests, the team remains on schedule. The details of that schedule for the upcoming week was laid on by NOLA.com’s Christian Clark.
“On Wednesday, the Pelicans will leave Louisiana for Florida. Once they arrive at Walt Disney World, everyone in their traveling party will be immediately tested. Players and essential staff members who make the trip will have to quarantine in their room between 36 and 48 hours while they await test results. If they test negative twice, they’ll then be allowed on the campus grounds.
If everything goes according to plan, the Pelicans will hold their first post-pandemic team practice Friday.”
The fact the team has yet to hold a complete team practice since the rebuild is another example of how challenging the restart will be. JJ Redick recently discussed the challenges with split workouts in the past few weeks.
“We’re here at the practice facility, I don’t see half of my team when I come in. I don’t know if you guys understand that. I come in in the morning with the morning group and I see half of my team. I don’t see Brandon (Ingram) or Lonzo (Ball).”
The coming week will be a decisive one for the Pelicans. Since the three positive tests in the initial round of testing, the team has yet to have another positive test. Assuming that doesn’t change or at least doesn’t change drastically, the team should have a full-squad practice on Friday, a big step toward the team taking part in the NBA’s restart.
