Miami — The Pistons had been one of the few NBA teams that had not had a player enter the COVID health and safety protocols this season.
That is, until now.
Rookie Cade Cunningham, the Pistons’ No. 1 overall pick in the draft, has entered the health and safety protocols, according to a report by Shams Charania of The Athletic on Wednesday.
Cunningham, 20, played in Tuesday night’s loss to the New York Knicks and had seven points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 33 minutes. The Knicks, however, had a player, Nerlens Noel, who also entered the health and safety protocols on Wednesday.
Charania also reported Wednesday that the Pistons are signing big man Cheick Diallo from the Motor City Cruise, their G League affiliate, to a 10-day contract. The Pistons have a full roster and didn’t have an open spot, but with Cunningham going into the protocols, they are allowed to add a player on a 10-day deal, which won’t count against the salary cap.
The Pistons are scheduled to play against the Miami Heat on Thursday, and it’s not clear whether there are any other players who might enter the protocols because of close contact or contact tracing.
The NBA has had more than 100 players enter the health and safety protocols, as the omicron variant has spread rapidly throughout the country in recent weeks. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday on ESPN’s NBA Today show that omicron is the dominant variant spreading around the league currently and that 90% of the cases that the league is sequencing are the omicron variant.
Silver also said that the league has no plans to pause the season, including its marquee slate of Christmas Day games, because of the spread.
“We’ve looked at all the options, but frankly, we’re having trouble coming up with what the logic would be with pausing right now,” Silver told host Malika Andrews.
The NBA has made a push to have all of its players vaccinated and to receive the booster dose as well. Silver said that 97% of the league’s players are vaccinated and 65% have received a booster dose.
Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard