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Andrew LopezESPN
Although a return to the Orlando bubble is not set in stone yet, the New Orleans Pelicans did provide some clarity on rookie forward Zion Williamson‘s situation Wednesday.
The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Williamson has been getting tested daily for the coronavirus since he has been away from the team. The Pelicans added that although there is no timetable for his return, Williamson “fully intends to rejoin the team.”
Daily testing for Williamson, who left the team on July 16 because of a family medical emergency, is a key component of when he can return to the team. According to NBA protocol, if Williamson’s absence lasts seven days or fewer, he has to quarantine for only four days upon his return.
If he is gone longer than a week, he will still quarantine for just four days as long as he has a negative test for the final seven days he is gone. If Williamson were not testing daily, he would have had to quarantine for at least 10 days.
The Pelicans open their eight seeding games on July 30 against the Utah Jazz on the opening night of the league’s restart. For Williamson to be eligible to play in that game, he’d have to be back in the bubble by Sunday, July 26.
New Orleans has its first scrimmage game Wednesday evening against the Brooklyn Nets.