Sports Roundup: MLB Restart, NBA Draft Changes, Lillard MVP Vote

Let’s take a walk around the empty stadiums, arenas, fields, and parks of the sports world, for a look at what has happened recently.

Actual News

MLB is hoping to start their 2020 season, but with a twist: All teams would play their games in Arizona in an empty facility with the teams sequestered. Understandably, players have mixed opinions about being away from their families for group activities during a pandemic. The NBA is also still hoping to restart the season, and we’ll have an extended article about that later today.

Zach Lowe says he has Damian Lillard fourth on his shortened-season NBA MVP ballot.

The NBA has provided draft-process guidance for teams. There will be no in-person process this year; all meetings will be virtual, and they can only do two virtual meetings per week.

Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas is the favorite for the Chicago Bulls’ now-open position of head of basketball operations, per Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill. The Bulls position has been called elite by certain media members, while prospective candidates (including former Blazers temporary GM Chad Buchanan) have declined to even interview for it. They’re also interviewing former Hawks GM Wes Wilcox, who is in such strong demand that he isn’t currently employed by an NBA team, but that won’t stop Woj from marketing him.

Former Blazers Rudy Fernandez and Pau Gasol have joined with tennis legend Rafa Nadal to help the Spanish Red Cross.

Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and the late Kobe Bryant were elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame. ESPN reports that they’ll be joined by WNBA star Tamika Catchings, Baylor coach Kim Mulkey, Bentley University coach Barbara Stevens, NCAA coach Eddie Sutton; and Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich.

CJ McCollum is matching donations to the Boys and Girls Club of Portland. Donate here!

Coach Damon Stoudamire has agreed to a multi-year extension to continue as Pacific Men’s Basketball coach.

Hashtag Slow News Day

Meyers Leonard has kept busy during the downtime, but his time playing video games has garnered the most attention. (Subscription to The Athletic required)

NHL players are adopting dogs while stuck at home and awwww they’re so adorable, who’s the good little puppy, that’s right, you are!

Jusuf Nurkic would like you to take a virtual tour of his home country while you’re stuck on your couch.

Evan Turner crowd-surfed ten years ago at a Drake concert.