Trail Blazers, Nuggets Plan to Open Facilities Friday on Limited Basis

Rob Goldberg @TheRobGoldbergFeatured ColumnistMay 6, 2020

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 12: Outside of the arena before a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2015 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

The Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets are among the first teams set to open their facilities Friday as part of a limited return from the hiatus caused by the coronavirus, according to Jeff Zillgitt and Mark Medina of USA Today.

Marc Stein of the New York Times later received confirmation of those teams' plans:

Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Portland and Denver have confirmed tonight that, like the Cavaliers, both plan to unlock their doors Friday and make it at least three NBA teams preparing to open their practice facilities for voluntary individual workouts on the league's first allowable day

The Houston Rockets were also initially planning to open Friday but have been delayed to May 18:

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Change of plans: Rockets plan to open their gyms for individual workouts on May 18. Texas governor Gregg Abbott announced last night about pushing back gym reopenings from May 8 to May 18 https://t.co/362LUDw6HA

Rockets CEO Tad Brown originally said the organization was "certainly expecting" to open on May 8.

The NBA announced last month that beginning on May 8, teams could begin reopening facilities in accordance with the relaxation of state and local COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

There are still restrictions, including limiting workouts to four players at a time and banning head and assistant coaches from participating.

While the NBA is allowing teams to use facilities for the first time since the season was suspended in March, not every organization will take advantage.

Beyond the Trail Blazers and Nuggets, Zillgitt and Medina predict "maybe another team or two" will open.

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks could open soon as well, with Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said his team is "aiming to be open next week."

However, others are located in states with strict orders, including the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

The Golden State Warriors will not be able to open until at least June 1.

The varied availability between teams could have a significant impact on when the 2019-20 season could potentially resume.