The NBA’s health and safety protocols for the upcoming season mandate all coaches, including head coaches, wear masks at all times while coaching — a change from the in-game mask policy used during the league’s summer restart in Orlando. The guidelines warn that coaches “must not regularly pull down their facemasks more than is occasionally necessary under the circumstances to perform essential coaching duties.”

After it was clear there was no traction in talks with the Nets, Harden expressed to the Rockets that he would be agreeable if a trade with the 76ers materialized, sources said. Harden also indicated that other teams could fit his criteria for a preferred destination, a source said.

After a conference call with the NBA on Tuesday night, the NBCA told ESPN its full membership is prepared to participate in the upcoming NBA season despite high rates of coronavirus infection and spread in many parts of the country.Orlando Magic

The 32-year-old Lin played for the Beijing Ducks last season. He has recently been working out and playing in scrimmages with the G League’s new development team. Lin previously has played in the G League twice, with Reno and Erie.Sacramento Kings

The Toronto Raptors already had to relocate temporarily. Due to travel restrictions the Canadian government put in place during the pandemic, it isn’t feasible to have an NBA team based north of the border right now.

“Yeah, he’s going to act up,” a former Rockets staffer said. Brooklyn Nets

Rockets management believed those issues could be ironed out and wanted to run it back with the Harden-Paul duo last season. Those plans changed as soon as Westbrook became available.

Harden insisted the Rockets get the deal done, saying he’d demand a trade if they didn’t find a way to bring his childhood friend and former OKC teammate to Houston, sources said. The Rockets paid a price that was considered steep at the time — Paul, 2024 and 2026 first-round picks, and swap rights in 2021 and 2025.Cleveland Cavaliers