The Minnesota Timberwolves’ season came to an abrupt end with the COVID-19 pandemic. By not being one of the 22 teams invited to finish the season in Orlando, the Wolves found themselves in a tricky situation that wouldn’t see the team on the court until the 2020-21 season potentially tips off in December.
On Thursday, the NBA took a step in addressing that gap with the idea for a second “bubble” site in Chicago. The plan is for the Wolves along with the seven other teams not heading to Orlando to hold a mini-camp and play games in Chicago to get ready for next season according to ESPN.
The report also states that the teams would follow the same protocols and isolation practices that will be used in Orlando as the league attempts to declare an NBA Champion later this fall.
The Wolves were among seven non-playoff teams that participated in a league-wide call on Thursday that sought assurance that teams would send their players if an agreement is reached. However, some teams have reportedly preferred to hold their own mini-camps in local markets.
While it appears the NBA has figured out a way to return to the court safely, the league has also seen a spike in positive COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, nine more players tested positive for the virus bringing the total up to 25 out of the pool of 351 players heading to Orlando.
