Teams, Agents Using COVID-19 History As Part Of Free Agent Signing Decision Calculus

A report from Tom Haberstroh at TrueHoop suggests some teams and agents are using a recent COVID-19 positive test as a consideration on signing free agents.

The NBA currently has a loophole in which any player who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, has recovered and consistently tests negative can join a team in as few as two days.

The Boston Celtics, according to an agent that spoke with Haberstroh, were seeking "a free agent center who had recently recovered from COVID-19."

“[Getting COVID-19] is, unfortunately, like getting a FastPass at Disney World,” said one general manager. 

One executive relayed a conversation he had with an agent in which the agent said "Remember … he’s had COVID-19 already. He might be, um, more employable for you.”