The Knicks were the only one of the eight teams to miss an NBA conference call on Thursday that proposed taking non-Orlando clubs to a Chicago bubble in September for volunteer minicamps / practice games.
According to a source, the Knicks were concerned with training interviews on Thursday. The source said the call was for the league’s general managers, and Scott Perry promised to conduct pre-scheduled video interviews.
ESPN subsequently reported that Jason Kidd and Will Hardy were interviewed. They are two of the Knicks’ 11 training candidates, and a decision is expected later this month.
The Knicks’ absence from the call should not be considered opposition to the entire Chicago project, according to the source. However, it is unclear why the Knicks did not request another operative to monitor what was a preliminary call.
The Knicks would like some sort of organized training activities this summer to make up for the loss of the Orlando restart, but going to Chicago is not their best option.
The Post reported Monday that the NBA will not allow any mandatory organized team activity for the “Eliminate Eight” at its own facilities due to health problems. Having a Chicago bubble would be a commitment.
However, the Knicks don’t like games, as their roster is full of veterans who will be free agents and likely won’t participate.
The Knicks’ interest in OTAs comes from their new coach working with the young players on the roster and other players they hope to retain, such as Reggie Bullock and perhaps Taj Gibson, especially if Tom Thibodeau is hired.
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The franchise’s first preference is to be able to open the training ground before the other 22 teams on restart so that their recruits and any new free agent signings can be part of it. A training camp is expected for the next season in early or mid-November.
If the Knicks are forced to form a team in Chicago, they will volunteer for their players.
The Knicks would like to see newly signed guards Jared Harper and Theo Pinson in practice. However, risking their bedrock pieces like RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson in domestic games has no appeal to them.
ESPN reported that other teams also prefer to stay home for OTAs, but the league will not allow it. The NBA organized the call to see if the clubs would be willing to send players to a Chicago bubble with security protocols as strict as Orlando’s.
A source said the plan is still weeks away from any kind of approval and several more discussions will take place.
Players union president Michele Roberts said last week that team training for the eight teams not participating in the playoffs should be done with the same careful consideration of safety as in the Orlando bubble.
“Honestly, while I appreciate that there will be a bit of a layoff, I think there are some things these teams can do to keep the boys from playing. [benefit] for not being involved in Orlando, ” said Roberts. “But unless we can replicate the protocol that has been established for Orlando in every way, I will suspect, I am being meek.”
ESPN first reported Chicago’s bubble plan, noting that the 30 teams would split the cost, which appears to be costly. The Orlando bubble is already costing the NBA $ 150 million in three months.
Commissioner Adam Silver recently said the Orlando restart is not saving the league as much revenue as people think due to the high expense of maintaining a bubble with the daily tests of COVID-19.
MSG Network will host “Patrick Ewing Week” starting Monday, including showing off some of Georgetown’s best Ewing games.
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