Raptors’ Fred VanVleet skeptical about NBA season resuming

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is bracing for suspended NBA season t to resume and if it does, he isn’t convinced health concerns can be equately dressed as long as coronavirus pandemic remains a threat.

“I think everybody is just preparing for worst case scenario, season being canceled,” Van Vleet said in a conference call Wednesday. “We have to do what we have to do to try to shoulder hit as best we can for us as players and owners and league, while also working to try to resume as best we can.”

Speaking from his home in Rockford, Illiis, VanVleet — a self-described skeptic — questioned wher a return to action could be carried out safely, and said he doesn’t relish idea of playing in front of empty arenas.

“I could play anywhere,” he said. “Do I want to play in front of people? , but does it really matter? At this point, I don’t think anybody is going to have a quarrel with what happens, as long as people’s health is first and foremost, which we kw it probably won’t be.

“If our league is going to be a leer in terms of public health and public safety and player safety, you’ve got to follow guidelines of what virus is speaking to you, so odds are probably against us in terms of that,” VanVleet ded. “But money, right? So, I think y’ll find a way somehow, some way and try to make it happen. I could definitely see it going eir way. I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t come back and I wouldn’t be surprised if we do come back.”

NBA Commissioner am Silver has said player safety will be a top priority in whatever decision is me about this season while stressing that everything is on table. After last week’s Board of Goverrs meeting , Silver said “when you’re dealing with human life, that trumps anything else we could possibly talk about.”

Chris Paul, Oklahoma City guard and president of National Basketball Players Association, has spoken with Silver often since shutdown. Paul said Wednesday that union and league are seeking answers, but y just don’t exist yet.

“This is a situation where one kws,” Paul said. “ virus is actually in complete control.”

coronavirus pandemic also will also have an impact on free ncy.

VanVleet was set for free ncy this summer and ackwledged that he’s thought about it, but said he tries to keep it in perspective during pandemic. He was averaging career-highs of 17.6 points and 6.6 assists in 48 games before play was suspended in March.

“I think league and union will try to do a good job to make sure that free nts this summer get a fair shake and re’s fair negotiating,” said VanVleet, who signed a two-year, $18-million deal to stay with Toronto before 2018-19 season, when Raptors won ir first NBA title. “Obviously, we’ll probably all take a hit at some point, and hopefully hit is just kind of minimized to this year.”

Still, VanVleet was philosophical about impact of lost ws for star athletes in an environment where millions of people worldwide are suddenly facing far more serious financial hardships.

“I think people’s health and well being, and frame of mind, is a lot more important than a couple of million here or re, because we’re filthy rich compared to what we came from in first place,” he said. “So I don’t think anybody’s crying over it.”