NBA return to play rumors: 8 stars that won’t be in Orlando
By Josh Wilson
These stars won’t be included in the NBA return to play
The NBA is all but officially set to return this summer and complete its 2019-20 season in a campus environment. It will take place in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World Resort, reportedly.
According to both Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania, the league will bring back the 22 teams with the best records and provide each team with a chance to make the postseason. Details are still emerging on the return to play format, but here is what we know now from Woj:
The league’s Board of Governers still needs to vote on Thursday to ratify the proposal, but it appears likely to pass.
Which NBA teams will not be included in NBA’s return to play in Orlando?
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- New York Knicks
- Detroit Pistons
- Atlanta Hawks
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Golden State Warriors
Without further ado, let’s get into the star players that won’t be in Orlando, starting with an honorable mention.
Honorable mention: Vince Carter
Vince Carter’s career appears to have come to an end. Carter, who was slated to retire and end his 22-year career at the end of this season, will not have a chance to get complete closure on his career since the Atlanta Hawks do not have a good enough record to receive an invitation to the return-to-play campus.
Carter thankfully got some playing time on the night the NBA’s season was suspended. He was emotional in his post-game press conference, aware of the likelihood that he may have suddenly played his last game.
Though more of a mentor and veteran leader than a star player these days, it’s still unfortunate that he won’t get the proper send-off.
NBA stars not included in return to play: Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine has had a rough ride this year. Caught on camera outwardly frustrated with coaching in some of his games this season, it feels like LaVine is almost there in terms of being an All-Star caliber player.
It looks as if the Bulls will part ways with team head coach Jim Boylen this summer, affording LaVine more space to do what he needs to do. Perhaps giving him and the Bulls some incentive to compete might have worked well, but we’ll have to wait for next year to see LaVine hoop.
LaVine is averaging 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in a fringe All-Star season this year.
NBA stars not included in return to play: Kevin Love
Kevin Love may not be considered as a major star these days, but his presence in Orlando will still be missed.
It looked as if he was a candidate to be traded at the deadline, and may still be moved this offseason to a contender.
For now, he remains a Cav, and with the second-worst record in the league, he won’t be invited to the return-to-play campus. Along with him, promising young stars like Collin Sexton won’t be invited from the Cavs, either.
NBA stars not included in return to play: Blake Griffin
The Pistons effectively wrapped things up in February when they traded away Andre Drummond, so this is no surprise.
Still, Blake Griffin could have been on the list of “players we really want to see come back during the return-to-play” since he should be just now returning to full basketball activities:
Instead, he and the Pistons will be absent from the league’s return to play that includes a majority of the league’s teams.
Ultimately, what’s best for Griffin and the Pistons right now is probably for him to take it slow and come back next year as strong as he can.
Griffin’s season has unfortunately been defined by injuries, as he was only able to suit up for 18 games this year.
NBA stars not included in return to play: Trae Young
Trae Young has proven he’s one of the point guards of the future in this league, though he does still have quite a bit to prove.
With seemingly unlimited splash zone range and a wizard-like passing and ball-handling abilities, he’s frustrated the veterans of the league with his nutmegs.
Young is second in the league this year in assists per game behind LeBron James with 9.3. Beyond that, he averages 29.6 points per game on 43.7 percent shooting from the field. Young was named to his first All-Star game this season.
NBA stars not included in return to play: Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves currently have the league’s third-worst record, and Towns as a result will not be in Orlando, neither will his new teammate D’Angelo Russell.
Towns for a time this season was looking like an MVP candidate, putting up 26.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists this year.
Towns certainly has bigger things to worry about at this stage of his life anyway. He is grieving the loss of his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, who tragically passed away due to complications from novel coronavirus recently.
NBA stars not included in return to play: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
Of course, the biggest missing piece from this year’s return-to-play will be the trio of superstars that make up the Golden State Warriors.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were both nursing injuries for most of the season, which kept the Warriors from winning many games, leaving Draymond Green to lead a team of youngsters.
With the league’s worst record, and having already been eliminated from postseason contention, it’s no surprise that the Warriors weren’t included. The only way in which they would have been brought in is if the league decided to bring all 30 teams back.
Given the market size and worldwide interest in the Warriors due to their recent dominance, the league will surely miss the fanbase and TV market they attract.
This will be the first year in five consecutive seasons that the Warriors aren’t competing in the NBA Finals.