Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet talked to ESPN from his home about the NBA season. He believes that the season is not likely to resume and even if it does, he is not convinced that health precautions will be taken.
“I think everybody is just preparing for the worst-case scenario, the season being canceled. We have to do what we have to do to try to shoulder the hit as best as we can for us as players and owners and the league, while also working to try to resume as best we can.
I could play anywhere. Do I want to play in front of no people? No, but does it really matter? At this point, I don’t think anybody is going to have a quarrel with what happens, as long as people’s health is first and foremost, which we know it probably won’t be.”
Players’ health and safety is a top priority for the NBA and the teams no matter the decision regarding the rest of the season.
“If our league is going to be a leader in terms of public health and public safety and player safety, you’ve got to follow the guidelines of what the virus is speaking to you, so the odds are probably against us in terms of that. But money, right? So, I think they’ll find a way somehow, some way and try to make it happen. I could definitely see it going either way. I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t come back and I wouldn’t be surprised if we do come back.”
VanVleet was set for free agency this summer. According to him, the coronavirus pandemic will also affect free agents.
“I think the league and the union will try to do a good job to make sure that the free agents this summer get a fair shake and there’s fair negotiating. Obviously, we’ll probably all take a hit at some point, and hopefully the hit is just kind of minimized to this year.”
