The Memphis Grizzlies will be without their formidable center Jonas Valanciunas for some time.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Valanciunas has entered the league's health and safety protocol, likely meaning that he's been at risk of coming in contact with someone who's tested positive for COVID-19.
Memphis C Jonas Valanciunas has entered the league's health and safety protocol, team says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2021
As a result, Jonas Valanciunas will remain out against the Phoenix Suns on Monday. The Grizzlies big man initiated a trickle down effect that resulted in the Philadelphia 76ers having to postpone their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
As noted by Wojnarowski, the postponement comes from contact tracing due to the Sixers recently playing the Grizzlies.
The Sixers postponement is due to contact tracing connected with the game against the Grizzlies on Saturday night, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2021
Due to the newly imposed rules circling about the pandemic, a team must have at least eight active players available in order to play, which the Sixers fell short of on Sunday.
The NBA has been actively looking at ways to amend certain rules or expanding teams' roster spots in the wake of the surge in positive cases lately. While a vaccine for the horrific virus is on the horizon, the bell curve hasn't occurred in which the masses of the nation have access to its relief.
ESPN's Tim Bontemps put into perspective another case of contact tracing through multiple teams in the West–including the Grizzlies–that've been immersed in the health and safety protocols.
Memphis just played Minnesota before playing the Sixers, and the game between those teams was postponed Friday because Minnesota couldn’t field enough players. Tomorrow’s game for Memphis is scheduled against Phoenix, which hasn’t played in a week because it’s been in protocols.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 17, 2021
The hope for Adam Silver was that by limiting cross market travel, the NBA could limit exposure to COVID-19 without being forced into a bubble-like situation again. So far, that doesn't seem to be the case.
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