DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 06: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during play against the Dallas ... [+]
This week, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBPA has started polling players about their desire to return to play this season. Count Memphis Grizzlies star rookie Ja Morant as someone who wants the season to come back in some capacity:
The NBPA has denied that the poll exists.
NBA play has been suspended since March 11. The Grizzlies played their last game on March 10 when they lost to the Magic 120-115. Morant was in the middle of a stellar rookie season, one that will likely result in him winning the Rookie of the Year award. In 59 games — all starts — Morant averaged 17.6 points, 6.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Certainly, Morant and Memphis have something to play for, more so than players and teams who don’t have a shot at the playoffs. Notably, per Yahoo!’s Chris Haynes, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry and other top-level stars held a private call that has them forming a “united front” in resuming the season if it can be done so safely.
Haynes’ report also indicated that “the majority of players who are essentially eliminated from postseason contention would rather the league start back up with the top eight teams in each conference competing in some sort of playoff.” That would include the Grizzlies were no additional regular season games played. When the season stopped, Memphis held a 2.5 game lead over Portland for the West’s No. 8 seed.
To date, the Grizzlies have not commented on any plans to re-open their facilities to players as teams like the Cavs, Trail Blazers and Heat have done. If the season is going to resume in a so-called bubble at Disney World in Florida or in Las Vegas, players having access to facilities is a must. Testing for the coronavirus among players is another issue to short out entirely, as it has been deemed a prerequisite for the season to resume.
Financially, the season returning could be a big deal for the Grizzlies. Games are likely to be played with no fans attendance, so the franchise probably won’t be in a position to cash in on ticket sales for a resumed regular season or a minimum two playoff games in Memphis against James’ Lakers. Per an ESPN report, NBA commissioner Adam Silver told players on a call last week that about 40% of league revenue came from game-night transactions.
But if the season were to resume, it could make up for some of the revenue that has been lost. For a smaller market team like the Grizzlies who obtain money from shared league revenue, that matters. For the players, it may not offset a possible “large reduction” to the 2020-21 salary cap that is in play.
Silver has said that a decision on the reason resuming doesn’t have to be made until some point June.
