NBA Season Reboot Opt-Out Timeline: Tracking Every Player Who Will Not Make The Trip To Orlando

The NBA season resumes at the end of the month with each of the 22 teams playing eight preliminary seeding games. Games will be played in a bubble environment at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. Teams made it to the bubble and are working out and scrimmaging in preparation for the season’s restart. Unfortunately, several players still haven’t been able to travel with their teams. Here is a list of key players who have decided to opt-out or who have been unable to travel due to health concerns.

Aaron Baynes, Phoenix Suns, C-F

The Phoenix Suns center tested positive for the coronavirus, he told Stadium’s Shams Charania in a video tweeted Wednesday afternoon. Baynes is currently quarantined with his family back in Phoenix. He reported that he is hoping to join the Suns at some point, but he needs to register two negative tests before the league will allow him to do so.

Phoenix Suns center Aron Baynes (@AronBaynes) tells me on @Stadium that he tested positive for coronavirus and opens up about how virus has impacted life for over a month for him, his wife and kids: pic.twitter.com/v2LDwpsZ89

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 22, 2020

Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks, G

Bledsoe is one of several other following players to test positive for the coronavirus. He is feeling well currently but wants to make sure that others are taking COVID seriously. Bledsoe hopes to join his team in Orlando in the future once he meets the NBA protocols. He took to Instagram to encourage people to stay safe and wear a mask.

Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets, G

Westbrook shared on twitter that he was unable to travel with the team to Orlando. Although he seems asymptomatic, he did test positive for the coronavirus. Westbrook joined the Rockets in the bubble on Wednesday. They intend to ease him back into the rotation in the practices. Westbrook fully intends to play in the opening game against the Mavericks.

Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings, F

Similar to Westbrook, Barnes tested positive for COVID prior to his team’s departure for Orlando. Barnes reported that he is asymptomatic. As of right now, he will not opt-out and hopes to join the Kings in the bubble when it is safe for him to do so.

pic.twitter.com/4TXEL0kcCV

— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) July 14, 2020

Taurean Prince, Brookly Nets, SF

The Nets are slowly running out of players on their roster. Several had already made the decision to opt-out of the remainder of the season and Prince recently tested positive for the coronavirus. Unlike Westbrook and Barnes, Prince will be sitting out for the rest of the 2020 season. Brooklyn now has four spots on their roster available for replacement players.

Brooklyn Nets forward Taurean Prince has tested positive for the coronavirus and will sit out the NBA’s restart in Orlando, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2020

Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets, SG

The Nets are going to be without several key players when the NBA makes its return at the end of the month. Shooting guard Spencer Dinwiddie has consulted with Nets team doctors and has decided to opt-out. As more people in the NBA circle test positive for the coronavirus, Dinwiddie feels it is best for him to stay home.

After another positive test yesterday and considering the symptoms, @BrooklynNets, team doctors and I have decided that it would be in the best interest for me and the team that I do not play in Orlando. I will be supporting the guys every step of the way! #AudienceOfOne

— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) July 7, 2020

Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards, SG

Wizards star Bradley Beal will not play in restarted NBA season due to shoulder injury.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2020

The Wizards are chasing the final playoff seed out of the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, they will have to do so without their star shooting guard, Bradley Beal. Beal has been one of the only bright spots for the Wizards this season. Sadly, a shoulder injury has motivated Beal to opt-out of the remainder of the season. It didn’t look likely that the Wizards would make the playoffs, but it will be even more of a challenge with Beal at home.

Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers, SG

https://twitter.com/BBallInsiders/status/1279259272879079425

Oladipo was not the first but is probably the most notable of players who have decided to opt-out of the remainder of the NBA season. “A part of rehab is working your way back and getting yourself to [100 percent],” Oladipo explained, “so at the end of the day, going back and turning things up as quickly as we’re about to do, and pretty much going to playoff formation and playoff games after eight games, I’m more susceptible to injury than anyone else is. So it’s not about now. It’s about longevity.” Oladipo injured his quadriceps earlier this NBA season and has chosen to opt-out in order to avoid reinjury. New reports state that Oladipo is “looking more promising” to make a return to play this season.

Davis Bertans, Washington Wizards, PF

https://twitter.com/BBallInsiders/status/1275299688577560576

In addition to Beal, the Wizards will be without their 3-point marksman, Davis Bertans. Bertans paved the way for NBA player opt-outs and was the first healthy player to make the decision. The Latvian sharpshooter got the green light to opt-out from his star teammate, Bradley Beal. Bertans is approaching free agency and does not want to jeopardize his future. With the playoffs looking out of sight for the Wizards, this was an easy decision for a role player like Bertans.

Trevor Ariza, Portland Trailblazers, SF

Ariza’s decision to opt-out is probably the most commendable of the aforementioned NBA players. The 34-year-old forward wants to spend more time with his son, as he is in a custody case with the boy’s mother. Ariza would have missed a court-mandated visitation had he chosen to take part in the reboot.

Avery Bradley, Los Angeles Lakers, SG

Similar to Ariza, Bradley is concerned about the well-being of his family. The veteran guard is married with three children and feared that his 6-year-old son Liam would not be medically cleared to join him in Orlando. Due to Bradley’s decision to opt-out of the NBA reboot, the Lakers signed J.R. Smith to replace him on their roster.

Willie Cauley-Stein, Dallas Mavericks, C

Mavericks center Willie Cauley-Stein has decided to sit out the resumed NBA season, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Cauley-Stein and his partner are expecting a newborn child in July.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2020

We have established a bit of a trend here. It’s nice to know that many NBA players realize that even though they get paid to play the game, fatherhood is their primary responsibility.

Wilson Chandler, Brooklyn Nets, SF

Chandler is another case of a player choosing to be a family man. Chandler told ESPN that he would not participate in the NBA season reboot in order to spend time with his grandmother and three children.

DeAndre Jordan, Brooklyn Nets, C

DeAndre Jordan tweeted on June 29 that he tested positive for the coronavirus and, ultimately, will opt out of the remainder of the NBA season.

Found out last night and confirmed again today that I’ve tested positive for Covid while being back in market. As a result of this, I will not be in Orlando for the resumption of the season.

— DeAndre Jordan 🐺 (@DeAndre) June 30, 2020

The Nets will easily be the most shorthanded team when the players step back on the hardwood.

Thabo Sefolosha, Houston Rockets, SG

NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported on July 1 that Sefalosha decided to opt-out of play in Orlando for the NBA reboot. Shortly after, the Rockets signed Luc Mbah a Moute to take his place on their roster.

Uncertainties

Miami Heat point guard  Goran Dragic reported that teammates Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn weren’t with the team at Disney World. “Hopefully Bam can come and K-Nunn and we can be a whole team and make some damage,” Dragic said. “Some guys are not here. We are eager, expecting them to come, hoping to be healthy and we can all start practicing together.” Neither Nunn nor Adebayo has been confirmed to be positive for the coronavirus. Reasons for their absences have not been released at this time.

Players making the decision to opt-out is one more thing that will put an asterisk behind the eventual 2020 NBA Championship title. Having said that, you have to respect the players for choosing to do what is best for them individually. I still can’t say with 100% certainty that the reboot plan will work out. The next few days will be crucial in deciding that. If it does work out, I am excited about having up to six NBA games in a single day.

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