The Dallas Mavericks will open their practice facilities for the first time since March on Thursday, May 28. Head coach Rick Carlisle made the announcement to players and personnel in a Zoom meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Dallas Morning News reports.

“One of the things we went over in the Zoom call today were the procedures for going in and out of the facility and procedures from going workout to workout, and there’s a lot of detail involved,” Carlisle said. “Mark Cuban has been very vigilant on the fact that we cannot be in a rush to reopen unless the timing is right.

“So we probably are [one of the last facilities] to reopen, but I’m actually proud of that fact because I think it’s been the right decision, and I also know our players have been doing a great job on their own of staying in shape and taking care of themselves, so we have a high level of trust with our players.”

Dallas is one of eight teams that hasn’t opened its facilities since the league indefinitely suspended its season on March 11. Other teams who haven’t opened their doors as of Tuesday are the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards.

NBA teams have been allowed to open their practice facilities for limited player workouts in states that lifted shelter-in-place restrictions since May 8. Texas Governor Greg Abbott allowed the state’s shelter-in-place ordnance to expire on May 1.

The abrupt news that the Mavericks are reopening their facilities may come as a surprise. Just last week, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told me that team didn’t have a timetable in place to reopen.

“We won’t do anything till we know we can make it safe,” Cuban said.

Either things are a lot safer now or there’s real traction that the NBA season will resume in the coming weeks and months. The league is in talks with Walt Disney Company to host the rest of its season at their resort in Orlando, Florida.

What the rest of the season may look like as well as its potential formatting is anyone’s guess at this point. The league is weighing its options. That said, Carlisle believes it will happen.

“I’m very optimistic that we will restart, but I do not want to have a heavy-handed opinion on how things should go,” Carlisle said.

By Doyle Rader@TheKobeBeef May 27, 2020, 4:10pm CDT