At least for the moment, the Washington Wizards contingent at Disney World in Orlando continues to shrink, with new reports that two players have tested positive for COVID-19. According to Ava Wallace of the Washington Post, Garrison Mathews, Thomas Bryant, and Gary Payton II did not travel with the Wizards to Orlando.
While Matthews will be missing the trip for personal reasons and could be back for the Wizards soon, Bryant and Payton II are likely gone for the whole season with both having tested positive for the coronavirus.
Earlier in the day, Wallace noted that Wizards head coach Scott Brooks said that “a couple” of his players didn't travel with the team down to Walt Disney World in Orlando.
The Wizards are already resuming their season without their best player, Bradley Beal, and their most improved player and best shooter, Davis Bertans. Bryant has averaged 12.1 points per game off the bench for Washington in 2019-20, while Payton II came on late as an impressive and feisty defensive guard (must be in the genes).
Matthews—who shot 41.3 percent on 7.3 three-point attempts per 36 minutes in 18 games—was expected to take on a bigger role in the bubble It's unclear how long he will be away from the team.
The Wizards arrived at their temporary digs at the Yacht Club hotel on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, the short-handed squad held its first organized practice at the Wide World of Sports facility.
Before our first practice here in Orlando, Coach Brooks had a message for the team 🗣🗣🗣#RepTheDistrict | #WholeNewGame pic.twitter.com/opIFGKAgAK
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 9, 2020
Washington opens up their revised schedule with a scrimmage vs. the Denver Nuggets on July 22, then play their first “seeding” game on July 31st vs. the Phoenix Suns. Washington (24-40) currently trails the Orlando Magic (30-35) by 5.5 games for the no. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
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