Report: NBA opening practice facilities for group workouts originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Weeks after wrapping voluntary offseason workouts at the Advocate Center, the Bulls could be back in town soon.
The NBA recently informed all 30 of its teams that they are permitted to open their practice facilities for group workouts with up to 10 players, The Athletic's Shams Charania first reported Friday:
Participating players will undergo daily coronavirus testing and be required to test negative before each entry into team facilities, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
If the league-preferred 2020-21 season start date proposal of Dec. 22 is enacted, it's been reported that training camps could commence Dec. 1.
Such a tight turnaround stands to negatively affect clubs coming off deep 2020 postseason runs. But the so-called "Delete 8" — a fraternity in which the Bulls are members — may also face difficulties adapting to a ramped-up schedule. The Bulls, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, after all, haven't seen live action since March, when the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be rust to shake.
The Bulls also underwent major upheaval during their extended layoff, instituting fresh leadership across the front office and hiring a new head coach in Billy Donovan, who is still in the process of overhauling his staff. Even if their 2020-21 roster closely resembles that of 2019-20, a lot of adjusting is going to need to happen quickly.
After the conclusion of voluntary workouts, some members of the team sprayed out to their respective home cities, while some stayed in town and continued limited, individual work allowed by the NBA at the Advocate Center.
This news doesn't necessarily signal an immediate reunion, but it's an indicator that the league means business in regards to a quick offseason turnaround.
