Cavs: Best-case scenario for NBA’s return could be ‘mid-to-late June’

On Sunday, it was reported that according to NBA owners and executives, a realistic best-case scenario for the league’s return could be “mid-to-late-June” for the Cleveland Cavaliers and other teams.

We are on the fifth day without the NBA, as the league suspended the 2019-20 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers and other teams on Wednesday in order to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus that is making its presence felt around the globe.

The Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert was the first player to test positive for COVID-19, and then Utah’s Donovan Mitchell tested positive on Thursday, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (who also first reported Gobert’s diagnosis).

On Saturday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Detroit Pistons big Christian Wood also tested positive for it.

Gobert and Mitchell are reportedly getting better day-to-day, which is good news, and Charania would also say how Wood has “shown no symptoms and is doing well.”

So what’s the updated timetable for the suspension of the league likely at this point, you ask?

In terms of the league’s potential return for the 2019-20 season, here’s what ultimately could be the case, according to a report from Wojnarowski on Sunday.

"“Against the backdrop of a global pandemic, NBA owners and executives are bracing for the possibility of mid-to-June as a best-case scenario for the league’s return, sources told ESPN on Sunday.”"

Woj then hit on some fear that the season could be “completely lost,” though, and that that’s seemingly the case due to lack of COVID-19 testing in the U.S. currently, and Woj also expressed how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a “recommendation on Sunday night that no events or gatherings should include more than 50 people for the next eight weeks.”

Additionally, here was more from Wojnarowski in terms of the financial impact moving forward by the need for COVID-19 precautions.

"“NBA owners are awaiting the league’s financial projections on lost revenues, which are expected to be shared with them soon, sources said. J.B. Lockhart, the NBA’s chief financial officer, has been leading the effort to deliver owners what all expect to be challenging financial projections on a short-term future that is thick with uncertainty and volatility.The NBA will likely provide projections on three primary scenarios: the financial costs of shutting down the season, restarting with no fans in the arena, or playing playoff games with fans. Those losses will be reflected in next season’s salary cap and the players’ share of basketball-related income.For now, there’s a working plan that games would return without fans, and teams have been told to search out arena dates well into August for the playoffs, sources said. Teams have been directed to give the league office potential dates at smaller nearby game venues, including team practice facilities, that could spare the use of empty, cavernous arenas and possibly provide backdrops to unique television viewing lines.”"

Woj would also hit on how the owners are being affected by not having arenas open to concerts and other events outside of just games, and how NBA commissioner Adam Silver is urging the league “to be open to experimental ideas” across the board in terms of scheduling, how games are presented, etc.

Plus, Tom Haberstroh of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported on Thursday that in just ticket revenue alone related to fan attendance when accounting for average revenue generated from regular season and postseason games (when averaging out total postseason games in the last ten years) remaining, the league would be projected to lose around $466 million if fans wouldn’t be attending would-be games. Haberstroh would touch on how crowds at games were already decreasing, too, though.

In terms of practice time/gatherings, precaution will be exercised in that realm, too, given the need to limit the potential for spread of COVID-19.

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ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported on Sunday that the NBA extended its ban on “team practices indefinitely,” but players can “work out individually” at team sites though it’s “recommended” teams considering using “temperature checks” on all then going into their facilities.

According to a report from Charania on Sunday, though, players can now leave their teams’ respective markets with consultation from their squads, so players can still be working on their games from an individual perspective, which is a plus for young Cleveland Cavaliers’ players, such as Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Cedi Osman and Kevin Porter Jr., for example.

Hopefully in Garland (left groin strain) and Porter’s case (concussion), both are recovering well from their recent injuries leading into the time of the league’s suspension, too.

Along with the previously mentioned updates, on Monday, Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes reported that during the current hiatus caused by the novel coronavirus, the league and the National Basketball Players Association “have reached an agreement to not subject players to drug testing,” but Haynes then said this instance is “only temporary” and went into further detail on the penalties imposed by the NBA in regards to players testing positive for banned substances.

Moreover, while Silver in an appearance on NBA on TNT on Thursday said that the league’s hiatus would be “at least 30 days,” it seems that the hiatus will be a whole lot more than what would be three-and-a-half more weeks at this point.

Also, based on the updates from Woj’s report on Sunday, it’s uncertain how and/or when the conclusion of the 2019-20 season will be.

It’s clear, though, that Silver and the league are taking the recommended precautions from the CDC in regards to gatherings very seriously, and that’s all the NBA can do right now.

Plus, it’s nice to know that Silver and the NBA league office are doing their due diligence in relation to working out the other details, too.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.