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Despite six players remaining healthy, the Washington Wizards are hoping they can resume training as early as Wednesday – nine days after the franchise’s last game amid a coronavirus outbreak within the squad, said Monday sources at ESPN.
Thanks to a difficult period of seven positive coronavirus tests among players – one player and one staff member tested positive on Monday, sources confirmed – a resumption of the Wizards’ season could be near by midweek if the franchise avoids further positive tests on Tuesday and Wednesday, sources said.
The NBA has postponed a fifth straight game for the Wizards – this time against Charlotte on Wednesday – and it remained unclear whether the NBA would push the Wizards into a scheduled game against Milwaukee on Friday. Even if the Wizards are able to sign eight eligible players for Friday, the NBA may decide to give the franchise more time to increase its available players for a return to NBA-level caliber.
The Wizards may soon start shutting down players under coronavirus protocols to resume participation midweek, sources said. Players who test positive for the coronavirus must self-isolate between 10 and 14 days, depending on individual recovery periods.
The Wizards are 3-8 this season and lost starting center Thomas Bryant to an ACL tear in his left knee on Jan.9. to acquire a player for a contract that runs until the end of the season.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are discussing adding a two-way roster for teams during the pandemic, sources told ESPN. A bilateral contract allows a player – with a partial salary of $ 450,000 – to participate in 50 of the 72 regular season games of the truncated season.
The Washington Post first reported the Wizards’ two new positive coronavirus tests on Monday.
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