NBA News: Season May End in an Unfamiliar Place

Sadly, the NBA postseason should be upon us as we speak, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it (like most sports) remains on pause. Still, there is continued optimism that the season can be finished this year, which is being reinforced by more and more team facilities reopening to players in the coming weeks. With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most recent news out of the NBA this week.
NBA Coming To Disneyworld?
It appears that if the NBA returns to finish out the 2019-20 season, it very well may take place in Orlando, Florida. The league is apparently in discussions with Walt Disney World about using their ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to finish out the season.
To do so would mean that practices, games, and lodging would all take place at the complex, one of just a few facilities that would likely have the means to make such accommodations work. While nothing is concrete, it does appear that Orlando is the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to where the NBA could finish their season.
Could Bradley Beal Be Coming To The Nets?
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, it appears the Brooklyn Nets are trying to lure a third star to pair with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and it appears that one player on their radar is Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards.
In 57 games this season, Beal averaged 30.5 points on 45.5% shooting. He also added 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.
While his stats certainly got a bump this year with the absence of John Wall, it is certainly notable as the trio of Durant, Irving and Beal would make for one of the most dynamic groupings in the league. While it still likely a longshot that they could net Beal in a trade, the rumblings at least suggest that Brooklyn may be a team to keep an eye on this offseason.
Jerry Sloan, Former Jazz Coach, Passes Away
Sadly, the NBA lost an amazing former coach and player this last week. Jerry Sloan, who most notably coached the Utah Jazz for 23 seasons, passed away at the age of 78 due to complications stemming from Parkinson’s disease.
As mentioned, Sloan spent the majority of his coaching career with the Utah Jazz, amassing an impressive 1,127-682 record during his time as coach. He made it to two NBA Finals but unfortunately came up short against the Chicago Bulls (his former team) both times. Sloan ranks fourth in the history of the NBA in wins at 1,221 and was inducted as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame back in 2009.
Looney Out For Rest Of Season
The Golden State Warriors, a team that has been synonymous with postseason excellence lately, has been in the midst of a horrific 2019-20 season. In fact, they have fallen so fast that the possibility of obtaining the number one overall pick in the next draft is a real possibility.
With the season already in doom, the Warriors’ big man Kevon Looney had surgery last week on a core muscle with the hopes of being ready for next season. This season, Looney appeared in just 20 games. In that time he averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1 assist per game.
Injuries were kind of the name of the game for the Warriors this year as Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, and Looney were all hampered. Still, they have the talent that it could be a quick turnaround next season, especially if they either get the number one pick or utilize it to acquire another asset.