Milwaukee Bucks reportedly considering opening practice facility next week
By Adam McGee
With teams around the NBA continuing to consider plans for reopening practice facilities, the Milwaukee Bucks may take the jump next week.
It seems as if we’re moving closer to practice facilities reopening around the NBA, although the situation is likely to vary from team to team, and the overall picture for an NBA return remains incredibly murky. That uncertainty applies for the Milwaukee Bucks too.
The Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets will all re-open their facilities on Friday, but there are other teams who are still holding off for the time being.
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ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the NBA’s policy remains to test only symptomatic players, as they remain conscious of the optics of significant private testing given the issues that still exist in widespread testing availability more generally.
Without being able to test asymptomatic players, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban revealed his team have no immediate plans to open their facilities, stating, “I just don’t think the risk is worth the reward.”
Jeff Zillgitt and Mark Medina of USA Today reported on Wednesday on the current status of every NBA team when it comes to the prospect of opening up for practice. The current perspective on the Bucks as per the USA Today reporting is:
"“The Bucks do not plan to open Friday but are looking at a potential day next week.”"
The exact details of how that would work out remains to be seen, particularly as Wisconsin’s Stay at Home order is scheduled to remain in place until at least May 26.
If the Bucks were to resume any kind of practice in the near future, the NBA’s current policy would mean they would be a long way from the normal practice routines they’re used to.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne shared a general manager’s characterization of reopening facilities not being evidence of a step toward resumption of play at present:
"“This is by no means ramping up towards something. It’s more about mental health than anything at this point.”"
Per Wojnarowski, workouts will be voluntary with teams allowed to assign up to six assistant coaches or player development staff to supervise workouts, although head coaches will not be allowed to attend or observe the sessions.
It remains to be seen exactly what approach the Bucks take to their reopening, particularly within the context of Wisconsin’s current guidelines.
Speaking to Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, along with other media members, on Tuesday, center Robin Lopez dismissed any concerns about teams elsewhere in the league getting a head start of any kind:
"“Honestly, that’s not something I’m too worried about right now,” Lopez said during a conference call Tuesday. “There’s a lot going on, certain states are at different levels in this pandemic here, so I’m not too concerned about whether teams are ahead or not with basketball. We’re going to do what we can with what we have.”"
Imagining a documentary on the early 1970s Bucks. dark. Next
For the time being, we’ll have to wait and see what decisions the Bucks make over the next week, and whether any more information is provided by the organization itself.