Raptors fly out to Florida for planned NBA restart

Sacha Pisani

Raptors fly out to Florida for planned NBA restart image

The defending NBA champion Raptors flew to Florida on Monday to begin their preparations for the planned 2019-20 season restart.

The Raptors will be based in Fort Myers until they enter the NBA campus at Walt Disney World Resort in early July for the remainder of the season.The NBA is planning to resume its campaign next month at Disney World via a 22-team format, after the league was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

MORE: Key dates, schedule, more to know about season restart in Orlando

"In keeping with NBA and team safety protocols, there will be no group workouts during this phase of return to play, and strict protocols have been designed to ensure this initial level of access will take place in a safe, controlled, and healthy way," the Raptors said in a statement.

Group workouts will only begin once teams have reported to the NBA campus at Disney World.

The Raptors (46-18) were second in the Eastern Conference prior the COVID-19 crisis, behind the NBA-leading Bucks (53-12).

Sacha Pisani