NBA: How a return to play could create permanent change
A return to play could usher in permanent changes for the NBA
There has been growing momentum over the past couple of weeks to resume playing the 2019-20 NBA season. And while there is no shortage of theories and people willing to offer their solution, one thing is for sure: any resumption of play will lead to permanent league changes.
The NBA and Adam Silver have never been afraid to push the league forward and I expect they’ll use the current situation to do just that. To pull that off, Silver will need to delicately handle the concerns of both the players and the owners, a task that seems straightforward but is really anything but that.
What does resuming NBA play look like?
The 16 teams currently in the playoff picture and their owners will obviously want to come back. I don’t think there’s much debate on that. But what about the other 14 teams? Per Yahoo Sports, Portland Trail Blazers star, Damian Lillard, has already said he won’t play unless the Blazers are given a real chance to get in the playoffs:
"“If we come back and they’re just like, ‘We’re adding a few games to finish the regular season,’ and they’re throwing us out there for meaningless games and we don’t have a true opportunity to get into the playoffs, I’m going to be with my team because I’m a part of the team. But I’m not going to be participating. I’m telling you that right now.”"
Lillard’s concern is one that’s likely shared with several players across the 14 non-playoff teams. So why even bring those teams back? Everyone has already played over 60 games, why can’t we just call that close enough to 82 and just send the playoff teams to Orlando for a quarantined postseason? Well, because the NBA is run by 30 owners who probably think a lot like Jordan Mains in Southpaw: “If it makes money, it makes sense.”
From the owners’ perspective, not playing a few regular-season games before the playoffs start means millions of lost dollars. Per Sam Amick at the Athletic (subscription required), if the teams don’t play 70 games, (every team has played between 63 and 67 games so far) then they will lose out on the regional sports network revenue that requires them to hit the 70-game threshold.
So something has to give. The owners want their T.V. revenue, and the players on non-playoff teams may not want to take health and injury risks just to line the pockets of their billionaire owners.
This is why the idea of a play-in tournament has been floated around. This gives teams that wouldn’t normally have a chance to make the playoffs an opportunity to make a return worth their while by playing meaningful games.
But is it fair to tell the 16 teams who have, through 60-plus games, earned a playoff spot that their regular-season success will be diminished to make the non-playoff teams feel important and sweeten the pot for their owners? The last thing the NBA wants to do is create a situation that diminishes the season and the playoffs, but a scenario that could allow bottom feeder teams a chance to participate in the playoffs would do just that.
If you haven’t caught on yet, the whole situation is a juggling act for Adam Silver and the NBA. He’s trying to juggle the health risks, the financial risks, a split group of players and teams, and a window to play that gets smaller with every day that goes by. It’s a juggling act that might not even be possible, and Silver will likely have to drop at least one ball to pull this off.