Mark Cuban explains why Mavericks won't open their facility just yet despite go-ahead from NBA

The NBA put out the instructions last week, providing an opening for a step forward in a possible return by allowing teams in states that had eased stay-at-home restrictions to open practice facilities Friday.

But the decision was met mostly by a shrug from teams and players unwilling to take the risk of bringing players out of their homes, particularly with no direction yet for a possible return to games.

Three teams expressed a desire to open their facilities Friday — Cleveland, Denver and Portland. But some teams that fall within the guidelines permissible for opening are holding back.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, speaking on The Athletic’s “77 Minutes in Heaven” podcast, said that despite the go-ahead from the league and from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the Mavs will not open their facility.

“The problem obviously is that because we can’t test people, then we can’t assure anybody’s safety, whether they’re basketball players or anybody else,” Cuban said. “Even though we can try to take all different kinds of precautions, it’s just not worth it, particularly when our guys are staying in shape and they’re going outside and shooting on outdoor hoops and working out in various ways. So I just don’t think the risk is worth the reward.”

He added in an ESPN Radio interview, “Seriously. If you’re a player, who do you trust with your life? If you’re a coach or a trainer or anybody, for that matter, that’s essential personnel for getting something back together, do you trust the hotel that we’re going to stay at to keep everything safe — the technology they’re using, the protocols they’re using?

“Who do you trust with your life? That’s a big question to ask somebody, but we all make decisions like that every day.”

The directive the NBA sent to all teams last week included a list of precautions and stipulations on how to handle the opening of the facilities:

* No more than four players permitted at a facility at any one time.

* No coaches participating.

* Group activity, including practices or scrimmages, prohibited.

* Players remain prohibited from using non-team facilities such as public health clubs, fitness centers or gyms.

* The teams must assign one senior executive as a facility hygiene officer, responsible for scheduling workouts and coordinating all of the necessary planning for the arrival of players. Players must wear face masks at the facility other than when they are engaging in physical activities and staff must always wear face masks and gloves and keep a distance of 12 feet from each other (other than a player receiving treatment from a trainer). Players will be required to observe sanitizing procedures and have their temperature taken upon arriving at the facility.

Teams that play in cities that have not been cleared yet remain in an uncertain place. The memo from the league said the league will work with general managers to find alternative arrangements.

The Knicks’ facility in Greenburgh will remain closed. There has been no update on how they will be able to proceed yet.

“I am worried like the rest of the world,” Portland guard CJ McCollum told Yahoo Sports. “But I like that it is optional and I’m pleased with the caution, structure and measures the Blazers’ organization has put in place . . . ”

The Miami Heat could open their facility but will not on the initial Friday date, possibly pushing the window back to sometime next week.

By Steve Popper

steve.popper@newsday.com@StevePopper

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.