Toronto Raptors forwards Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa have entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, bringing the team’s total up to seven players, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Raptors are scheduled to play the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Wojnarowski adds that Toronto is boarding a flight to Chicago and the game has yet to be postponed despite the outbreak.
The Raptors’ list of players currently in protocol also includes: Fred VanVleet (Dec. 21), Malachi Flynn (Dec. 21), Gary Trent Jr. (Dec. 20), Pascal Siakam (Dec. 18) and Dalano Banton (Dec. 18).
In an effort to reduce the number of game disruptions caused by COVID-19, the league and NBPA have agreed to a temporary arrangement that allows teams to sign one player for every player that enters protocols and requires teams to sign players as the number of their own players in protocols mounts, without impacting the salary cap or luxury tax.
The Raptors have signed four players to 10-day contracts using the hardship exception so far: Point guard Tremont Waters, point guard Brandon Goodwin, power forward Juwan Morgan and Canadian Nik Stauskas.
Barnes, a rookie of the year candidate, is averaging 15.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 49.4 per cent from the field this season.
Achiuwa previously entered protocols on Dec. 12 after having close contact with a positive case, but cleared soon after as he continued to test negative. The 22-year-old was a key returning piece in the Kyle Lowry trade with the Miami Heat and is averaging 8.4 points per game this season.
