Report: NBA plans Chicago 'bubble' for Delete Eight

While the 16 teams that are currently in playoff position and six others that
are relatively close will resume action in late July at the ESPN Wide World of
Sports Complex, the remaining eight teams were omitted from the plan.

The result would have seen the "Delete Eight" go without action from March 11,
when the NBA paused the 2019-20 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, until
the start of the next season, currently scheduled to occur around Dec. 1.

The Chicago plan would allow the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, New York
Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland
Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors to hold short training camps ahead of
playing games against each other. Action reportedly would be similar to a
summer league.

Teams would gather in Chicago in September, according to ESPN. The cost of the
second "bubble" reportedly would be split among all 30 teams.

Per the report, the Chicago "bubble" is not finalized, and teams are also
looking at a different plan that would have them compete in multiple regional
sites.

National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts and
NBA commissioner Adam Silver both would want the Chicago "bubble" to follow
the same protocols as the Orlando-area "bubble," with players and staffers
relatively quarantined while receiving regular COVID-19 tests, per ESPN.

The report indicated that seven of the eight affected teams discussed the idea
in a Thursday call, with the New York Knicks being the only absentee.

Multiple media outlets reported that the Knicks might opt out of the Chicago
"bubble," if it occurs, preferring instead to have their own training camp.
The Knicks, who are currently looking for a new head coach, would like to host
a minicamp following the Oct. 16 NBA draft, according to the New York Post.

Pistons coach Dwane Casey maintains that most of the Delete Eight would rather
have separate minicamps in light of news of multiple positive COVID-19 tests
for the teams that are preparing to head to central Florida.

"We'd rather (have our own camp) than go to the bubble because unlike those
teams in Orlando, we wouldn't be playing for the same reason," Casey said,
according to ESPN.

"The reason we want these minicamps is to get our team together, to have that
camaraderie, to improve and enjoy some competition. We feel we can do that
safely in our own environment. We can't let these guys sit around from March
11 to December without something. It's going to hurt their careers. It's too
long of a layoff."

Warriors general manager Bob Myers would be in favor of any plan that allows
his players to get together.

"Our position is, 'Let us know what's possible,'" Myers said, according to
ESPN. "Until we really know, it's hard to say. If we can get the majority of
our players to go. And if it's beneficial, then we'll do that. If we can't,
we'll take what we can get. This whole thing is about balancing health and
safety. From a team standpoint, what solutions check as many boxes as it can?

"One of the things is, you try not to judge. Everybody is right in a certain
sense. Whether we pursue the opportunity to get our young players some work in
some safe environment locally or in a second bubble, we're support of the
pursuit. Now whether we get there or not is really a health and safety thing."

--Field Level Media