A memo sent jointly by the NBA’s players union and the league will allow Knicks 2019 draft picks RJ Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis to travel back to Canada, but will ground Frank Ntilikina from heading back to France during what the league called “an indefinite suspension.”
The memo, sent Tuesday and obtained by The Post, states:
“Effective immediately, players will now have the ability to travel out of market as long as it is within North America. Both we and the league office recommend that players continue to remain in your team market, but you are free to travel so long as you coordinate and consult with your team and team’s medical advisors.”
There is still hope for Ntilikina.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation to see whether it is advisable to allow international players to return to their home countries,” the memo stated.
The Post reported Monday Ntilikina has been advised not to travel to France.
The memo also suggested teams under NBA-mandated “medically imposed quarantine/isolation” such as the Knicks need to be cleared for such travel by “the team’s medical professionals.”
The Knicks faced infected players Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and Christian Wood earlier this month.
According to an NBA source, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was permitted to leave for his hometown of New Orleans for self-isolation. Point guard Elfrid Payton also went home to New Orleans.
In addition, the memo says a ban continues on “group activities,” “group workouts,” “practices,” “meetings” and “skill or conditioning sessions.”
“Individual activities or workouts may be arranged with your team at your practice facility on a voluntary basis,” the memo said. “The teams have been instructed to take precautions like separating players into different parts of the facility and properly disinfecting training or practice equipment.”
The NBA still has hope of finishing its season, but it could take until mid-June before games begin.
The Players Association is also setting up a website to provide guidance on “effective ways to deploy charitable dollars during this time of need.”