Earlier on Tuesday, the focus of detailed reports from both ESPN and The Ringer that the NBA was on a World Cup-style scenario, where anywhere from 20 to all 30 teams in the NBA being included in a group stage scenario. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski detailed how there are different factions within the league and even within specific teams, but the 20-team scenario is the one both he and Lowe believe is the most popular one.
“[20] is absolutely one that they are talking a lot about. But with the caveat that the next grouping of teams, teams 20 through 24, let’s say Phoenix, Washington, Charlotte, Chicago. Different agendas with those teams about wanting to play. I know this. There are a few teams who don’t want the embarrassment of if the league goes to 24 and let’s say they leave out the bottom three in each conference,” Woj said on part one of his conversation with Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post. Then just do 20, because if you get to 24 and leave us out, it’s embarrassing for our organization. Don’t put us in that position. I’ve talked to others who say, that’s fine with us, we’re keeping our lottery pick and we’ll see you in the fall. Again, there’s going to be people upset with how this plays out and for Adam Silver, to his credit, he’s listening to all of them.”
However, while the 20-team scenario was the focus of most discussions on Tuesday, a 30-team scenario has become less likely but is still on the table. “It has not been taken off the board,” Wojnarowski said. Obviously, that would require more employees, more workers and more tests to get games done safely.
The NBA has a lot of options at their disposal and none of them are going to be without risk. Adam Silver is dealing with various interests, including the owners, players, and television partners of all 30 teams, in addition to their national partners like Disney and Turner, in constructing a return to play that can salvage as much as possible.
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