Amid a slew of COVID-19 cases from various teams, the NBA has given its teams ways of bolstering their lineups. Shams Charania reported that the NBA has implemented new rules allowing teams to sign extra players in case of an outbreak within the team. (via ClutchPoints on Twitter)
BREAKING 🚨
Effective until Jan. 19, the NBA will allow teams to sign replacement players per roster spot under contract that gets hit with COVID-19.
(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/Y1fwjpPTcL
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 20, 2021
The NBA, along with many other leagues, have been experiencing a wave of COVID-19 cases over the last few days. It's gotten so bad to the point where the league has had to postpone some games because teams don't have enough players to play the games. Because of this, fans were fearing that another stoppage of play and/or a bubble would occur.
It's clear, though, that the league isn't keen on doing another bubble season. This new rule further aids teams who are missing multiple players to COVID protocols. Before, NBA teams had the hardship exception to sign temporary players, but as the number of cases grew, that exception needed some adjustments.
Now, the NBA is allowing teams to sign as many players as they need to in order for them to play. Charania further elaborated on this rule with this update:
Sources: NBA teams will now be required to sign one replacement player when they have two positive tests on the roster. For three positive tests, two replacement signings are required. For four positive results or more, three hardship signings required. https://t.co/tOtwOLzyb4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 20, 2021
Another wrinkle was with regards to two-way players, who are now allowed to play more than 50 games in the NBA.
Another key note in NBA's roster rule changes for flexibility amid pandemic:
Two-way players — who previously had 50-game max — now have no limit on the number of games they can appear in, sources said. https://t.co/TjwvKcHP9y
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 20, 2021
The NBA does not want another COVID-19 bubble to happen. Time will tell if these new rules will be effective in holding off a potential stoppage of play again.
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