When the “bubble” games begin on July 30 in Orlando, Florida, every NBA player partaking in the season's restart will be at risk of contracting COVID-19 and getting hurt.
Since players haven't been able to train properly or play in games for over three months, there is an increased risk of injury at Walt Disney World.
With that said, here are five NBA players with the most to lose in the “bubble” games.
1. Donovan Mitchell
One of the best young scorers in the NBA, Donovan Mitchell is eligible to sign an extension with the Utah Jazz this offseason.
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, it’s likely Mitchell will wind up signing a five-year max extension of his rookie contract, putting him under team control for a while. In 219 games with the Jazz, the high-flyer has put up 22.7 points and led the Utah franchise to the postseason each year he has been with the club.
Because Mitchell is such an explosive player and always plays above the rim, he's prone to get hurt at Disney World. Therefore, it's not entirely realistic to expect Mitchell to immediately play at full speed once the “bubble” games start.
2. Bam Adebayo
Like Mitchell, Bam Adebayo is expected to sign a lucrative rookie-scale extension with the Miami Heat this summer. If he gets hurt in Orlando, though, that could seriously affect the amount of money Bam can potentially receive from Pat Riley and Co.
Adebayo was averaging 16.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Heat before games were suspended in March. He's one of the top rising stars in the NBA and everyone, not just in South Beach, is hoping he stays healthy so he can provide for his family moving forward.
3. De’Aaron Fox
Another youngster who will likely sign a rich rookie-scale extension this offseason, Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox is arguably the fastest player in the NBA.
Because he's always putting pressure on his body with his elite speed, though, Fox is very prone to get hurt in Orlando.
Two of the most explosive point guards in NBA history — Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook — have undergone multiple knee surgeries due to their reckless driving habits. Fox plays the same way as Rose and Westbrook, as he's always attacking the basket at will and doesn't care how many defenders are in his way.
Hopefully, Fox doesn't sustain an injury in Orlando. He's the future of the Kings franchise and one of the most exciting young players to watch in the NBA.
4. Jayson Tatum
An All-Star for the first time in 2019-20, Jayson Tatum is going to get a huge payday from the Boston Celtics whenever the 2020 offseason period starts. Multiple reports have stated that Boston won't hesitate to sign the talented scorer to a max contract extension.
However, what if Tatum suffers a serious injury in Orlando? Will that change Danny Ainge's mindset about Tatum's free agency? Even though everyone inside the Celtics organization loves who Tatum is as a person and a player, the NBA remains a business.
With that said, it wouldn't shock anyone if the Celtics didn't do right by Tatum if he gets hurt in Orlando. Remember Isaiah Thomas?
5. Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma is not only eligible for a contract extension this summer, but he could find himself in trade rumors once again.
Last offseason, Kuzma was the only youngster on the Los Angeles Lakers to survive the Anthony Davis trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Purple and Gold franchise parted ways with Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart to acquire AD.
Whenever the 2020 offseason period begins, the Lakers are expected to reach out to the Washington Wizards and inquire about a Bradley Beal trade. L.A. would have to move on from Kuzma to acquire Beal, but Kuzma's trade value could drop significantly if he doesn't play well or gets hurt in Orlando.
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