NBA & NBPA To Allow Teams To Sign Replacements Amid Covid-19 Outbreak

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game Six to win the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The NBA and the player’s association have announced that they will allow teams that are missing players because they are taking part in following the league’s Covid-19 protocol to sign replacements. This memo released by the NBA and NBPA went into effect yesterday and will last until January 19 when the league will reevaluate and decide the next steps.

The memo states that a team will be allowed to sign at least one new player for every two positive tests. A team can sign two new players for three positive tests, and at least three players for four or more positive tests.

The signings will not be counted against a team’s salary cap or affect their luxury tax payment.

This allowance will especially help teams, like the Brooklyn Nets, who are experiencing an outbreak. They have 10 players, which is the most in the league, in COVID protocol so they could sign up to 10 players and no less than three players before the January 19 deadline.

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The NBA will also enforce an additional testing protocol effective on December 26.

Rose Carter