NBA Players Who Will Sit Out Of League’s Orlando Return (part 3)
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz was the first team to have players test positive for the coronavirus. Rudy Gobert’s positive test forced the league to postpone its season.
Forward Bojan Bogdanovic underwent wrist surgery in May so is going to be sitting out the Jazz’s return. However, the remainder of the team roster plans on returning to Orlando.
Dallas Mavericks
Mavericks center Willie Cauley-Stein will be sitting out when the NBA returns in Orlando. He is expecting the birth of his child in July.
While the Dallas signed guard Trey Burke to join the team in Orlando, guard Courtney Lee will also miss the rest of the season with a calf injury.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets will playing without forward Thabo Sefolosha when returning to finish the season in Orlando. The team replaced Sefolosha with Luc Mbah a Moute in his absence.
Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said he plans to join the team in spite of his age and will wear a mask while being on the sidelines.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Every member of the Oklahoma City Thunder expects to join the team in Orlando’s return. Two-way guard Lu Dort signed a full-time contract extension during the NBA hiatus in order to remain with the team.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies own the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The team will have to fight for their lives to maintain it, which will be aided by the fact that no player has announced their plan to skip the return in Orlando.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers will return to the floor without forwards Trevor Ariza and Caleb Swanigan.
Forward Carmelo Anthony and guard Damian Lillard expressed hesitancy about returning but will be with the roster in Orlando.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are one of some NBA teams that chose to shut down their practice facility after positive coronavirus tests.
Center Nikola Jokic remains in his native Serbia after testing positive for Covid-19 in June. In spite of the positive tests, no Nuggets players are reportedly sitting out when the team returns to the league.