By most accounts, the Portland Trail Blazers greatly improved their chances of returning to the top of the Western Conference during the upcoming 2020-21 season thanks to a number of savvy trades and free agent signings.
But while those transactions have been widely celebrated, the team got a reminder prior to the official start of their season that, even if they make all the right moves, it is still the coronavirus that is truly calling the shots.
The team announced on Sunday, which was supposed to be the first day of training camp, that they would voluntarily close their practice facility due to three members of the organization testing coming back positive for COVID-19.