The Boston Celtics are dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reported reserve big man Robert Williams tested positive for the virus. Williams is asymptomatic.
Fellow frontcourt players Tristan Thompson and Grant Williams will also have to sit down for a bit, with Himmelsbach noting they have been deemed close contacts.
According to a league source, Robert Williams was the lone Celtics player to test positive for COVID-19 and has been asymptomatic. Tristan Thompson and Grant Williams are out for contact tracing.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) January 8, 2021
All three players will be forced to quarantine for seven days, per league protocol. On the plus side, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Carsen Edwards is available for Boston.
Further update: Celtics say Carsen Edwards is listed available and was not a close contact trace. Thompson, Robert Williams and Grant Williams will be required to quarantine for at least seven days. https://t.co/obp7OTRzij
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 8, 2021
Naturally, the sudden loss of three key rotation players makes for quite a scramble. Fortunately, it does not appear the Celtics will have a problem rostering enough guys for Friday night's matchup with the Washington Wizards.
The situation in Boston speaks to a developing situation around the league. Charania reported Thursday four new players had tested positive for COVID-19. He added NBA Commissioner Adam Silver advised teams to take ample precautionary measures with expected spikes in January.
Not unexpected given gatherings over Holidays.
Sources say Adam Silver said on league call recently that health experts advised that January is shaping up to be worst month in US in terms of case spikes — expected improvements beginning in February.
Stay vigilant and mask up. https://t.co/6jt008RQLP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 7, 2021
Indeed, the situation is already growing direr.
Denver Nuggets youngster Michael Porter Jr. has to undergo an additional quarantine period after previously completing isolation stemming from being a close contact.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry was informed of a positive test during Thursday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets, with the Sixers quarantining overnight in Brooklyn. Now, the Celtics have COVID issues of their own.
The NBA is undoubtedly going to face plenty of challenges this month, and all 30 teams will have to be especially wary of the situation.
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