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Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet feels less optimistic than some about the prospect of saving the 2019-20 season.
"Looking around the world at what's going on with the virus itself, if our league is going to be a leader in terms of public health and player safety, you've gotta follow the guidelines of what the virus is speaking to you," VanVleet said Wednesday, according to Lori Ewing of The Canadian Press.
"So the odds are probably against us in terms of that. But money, right? So, I think they'll find a way, they'll find a way somehow some way, and try to make it happen. But I can definitely see it going either way, and I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't come back and I wouldn't be surprised if we do come back."
The sudden stoppage also stands to hinder his next payday. The 26-year-old was averaging a career-high 17.6 points this year and looked certain to cash in on a much-improved deal in free agency during the offseason, but the coronavirus pandemic's financial ramifications on the league could reduce contract values in the immediate future.
VanVleet intends to take the process in stride.
"People's health and well being and frame of mind is a lot more important than a couple million here or there, because we're all filthy rich compared to what we came from in the first place, so I don't think anybody's crying over it," he said.
"I just think that it sucks when you do start to think about what woulda happened, shoulda happened, so try to stay away from that as much as possible."
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has yet to suggest a potential return date after the campaign was suspended indefinitely on March 11 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a call with reporters last week, Silver said there was still "too much unknown to set a timeline." He already cautioned earlier this month that no decision on the fate of the season would come until May, at the earliest.
