[Wojnarowski] Privately, several team executives and team health officials believed not testing everyone was financially motivated. Other teams privately argue that not all teams have followed the protocols as strictly as others, or that not all teams test as often as others.

Privately, several team executives and team health officials believed not testing everyone was financially motivated, though league officials have disputed this characterization to ESPN. For now, when a team has a positive case, that team is encouraged -- but not required -- to test all players and potentially impacted staff to see how far the virus has spread; the same is recommended when a team faces another team that has detected a positive test.

So far, mandated daily testing has remained off the table.

Other teams privately argue that not all teams have followed the protocols as strictly as others, or that not all teams test as often as others. Another GM said that if all teams were united heading into the Orlando bubble last year, the dynamics have now changed: Every team is out for themselves, trying to save their own seasons, fielding subpar ghost teams.

Amid the surge, a number of team executives started to believe -- and have voiced as much to the league -- that asymptomatic players should be able to play. But, at the highest corners of the NBA and NBPA, that possibility is, for now, a non-starter, league sources said.

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