Players deciding against participating in Orlando could be replaced by a substitution player, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The NBA is planning to allow replacement players for players who test positive for COVID-19 or suffer injuries.
Those players who get replaced become ineligible for the rest of the 2019-2020 season, Wojnarowski adds.
It was recently reported that a faction of players are debating the NBA restart in Orlando, citing concerns such as family concerns, COVID-19 and social justice.
Those who decide against the return-to-play will not be subject to discipline, but they will not be paid for games missed.
This came after players participated in a conference call.
“There were 40 to 50 players on conference calls over the past 24 hours discussing a number of concerns centered on the restart in Orlando, but there has been no formal petitioning to the NBPA from any group wanting out of the 22-team resumption,” according to Wojnarowski.
Executives and coaches around the league also have “significant concerns” about how players will adapt to an environment unlike any they’ve experienced.
“Many have worried, too, especially on teams that aren’t title contenders, whether some players will start to seek avenues to bypass the resumption altogether,” Wojnarowski adds.
The NBA and NBPA continue to work to finalize the many details of the return-to-play.
