Royal Reading: Kings will reportedly reopen practice facility on May 11

We might be getting closer to having the NBA back in our lives.

The Athletic’s Sam Amick says he heard from a source that the Sacramento Kings will be reopening their practice facility for voluntary individual workouts on May 11 under certain conditions.

As Amick points out, the Sacramento County Health Order making changes to their guidelines on May 1 helped the Kings take the next step in reopening their facility.

He also is reporting that the four California teams are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow teams to hold workouts with safety measures in place.

“In a 19-page memo sent to all 30 teams, which outlines the new guidelines for opening practice facilities and which was obtained by The Athletic, the league said explicitly to the clubs not in states that are open for business: “We will be contacting the team’s General Manager to make alternative arrangements.”

The rules for opening up the Kings practice facility include:

• Checking the temperature of players and staff as well as testing for potential coronavirus symptoms within two hours of team personnel entering the facility.
• Giving players electrocardiogram and a troponin test.
• Each team is responsible for having an isolated area to conduct COVID-19 tests if a doctor or infectious disease expert deems it necessary.
• Players have to wear masks except for when they’re training. All other team staff is required to wear masks and gloves at all times.
• Players and staff are mandated to stay 12-feet apart all times, although some treatment sessions will be exempt.
• Players can only work out individually, but cannot work with head coaches and assistants who sit on the bench. Development coaches are allowed to work with players.
• Teams are required to follow cleaning protocols for the basketballs and floors.

This is a big step for the NBA as it continues to figure out how continue the 2019-20 season. With the Kings sitting 3.5 games out of a playoff spot, I am hoping they will get the chance to play in the postseason from the first time in 14 years.

A lot of steps still need to be taken in order for things to resume, but this is the most encouraging news we have had since the league shutdown on March 11.

When do you think the season will resume?

Onto some more links:

If the Kings miss out on the playoffs, their chances at winning the NBA Draft Lottery will be slim. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report made a list of trades for every team currently out of a playoff spot. You can probably guess which Kings player he suggests moving.

Another hypothetical trade. Ashish Mathur of Clutch Points suggests the Kings take a run at Brooklyn Nets big man Jarrett Allen this summer.

From around the NBA:

With the league getting closer to a potential return to the court, NBA players will get together on a conference call this Friday to discuss their options. (ESPN)