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NBA allows teams to sign replacement players in wake of COVID outbreaks

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/20/21

With COVID cases on the rise across the NBA, the league and NBA Players Association reached an agreement on regulations regarding teams signing replacement players, ESPN reported Sunday night.

Most importantly for teams: Hardship signings will not impact team's salary cap and luxury tax, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2021

In addition to hardship signings, players with two-way contracts will not be limited to playing 50 NBA games, the new rules state.

The amended rules went into effect on Sunday and will remain active until Jan. 19, at which point the league will decide how to move forward.

The NBA had to postpone five games on Sunday as well as Monday's game between the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors. There is no word yet on whether other games will be postponed ahead of the holiday weekend.

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