NBA Players Who Will Sit Out Of League’s Orlando Return (part 1)

The list of NBA players who are going to sit out of the league’s return in Orlando keeps growing. Teams started traveling to The Walt Disney World Resorts on Tuesday, which forced players to make their decision on their future. Players can opt to end their season at any point and each team’s traveling party to Orlando has been finalized. Here is a running list of players who have been declared out for the league’s return.

Milwaukee Bucks

In spite of shutting down the Bucks practice facility on Sunday because of a positive COVID-19 test, Milwaukee hasn’t announced any players will be sitting out the NBA’s return. The Bucks are among the favorites to win the championship in Orlando.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors were never able to return to Canada to restart individual workouts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the team has been in Orlando since July 1 in order to prepare for the league’s return. In spite of growing numbers of cases around Orlando, no players within the Raptors have confirmed tested positive since the team’s arrival.

Up to now, no Raptors players are sitting out of the NBA’s return.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics were the very first teams to have players announced test positive for COVID-19. However, no Celtics players have announced to skip the NBA’s return.

Miami Heat

According to Miami Heat Coach Eric Spoelstra, the team expect to have their full 17-man roster intact as games return in Orlando.

However, reports emerged earlier this week that 3 Miami Heat players have tested positive for Covid-19. Derrick Jones Jr. had tested positive but will also travel with the team to Orlando. The other 2 players might have to wait to join the team.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers will be among the most heavily impacted teams upon the NBA’s return to Orlando. In spite of locking up a playoff berth, the Pacers will be without Victor Oladipo. The star guard goes on to rehab from a torn quad tendon and said that he didn’t feel comfortable returning to action.

Teammate Malcolm Brogdon tested positive for Covid-19 but plans to join the Pacers in their return.