REPORT: NBA mulling joint practices and possible summer games for teams that missed playoffs

The New York Knicks are not going to play in the remainder of the 2019-20 season, and might not take the court again in meaningful games until December. That’s a long time without basketball, especially for a Knicks team with young, developing kids, many of whom were playing their best ball when the season halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Well, we might not have to wait that long to see the ‘Bockers in action. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the eight NBA bottom-feeders have been in discussions with the league to hold training camps, and possibly even a few games, this summer.

Per Woj:

Among the front-office ideas presented to the NBA, sources said:

A combination of voluntary and mandatory workouts for two weeks in July.

Regional minicamps in August that include joint practices for a period of days and approximately three televised games.

Organized team activities (OTAs) for mid-September.

Teams want an opportunity for training camps to start seven to 10 days earlier for the 2020-21 season for those teams left out of Orlando.

Let’s begin with a caveat: None of these ideas are good unless America truly has coronavirus under control. Under that condition, however, I would love to have a brief Summer League for the Knicks and other loser teams. Hopefully the team “forgets” to send Julius Randle an invitation and allows youngsters Kevin Knox and Ignas Brazdeikis time at the 4. In fact, just play the kids. It’ll be fun.

Here’s hoping.