I have some thoughts - nothing I’ve read about to date, but somewhat fair and practical in my opinion: 1. season “continues” on October 15th; 2. games will be added, for what will known as the “2019-21 Season” that totals 122 games. [most teams have 15-17 games remaining, so the existing schedule will play out between October 15 and December 15. These games (new dates, but same opponents) will be played at “6 Regional Stadiums” and broadcast on TV, with no fans in attendance] [from December 25th through end of April, an additional 40 games will be played - and if we are clear of the virus, these games will be played in stadiums around the league with fans in attendance] note: let’s hope a vaccine or treatment is miraculously developed and available by December 1, 2020! 3. An NBA virtual draft will take place in June 2020 and each team will draft 1st and 2nd round picks as per CURENT (when the season was suspended) positioning in the standings. There will be a twist however with EVERY team having at least one ping pong ball in the lottery mix! AND, the drawing will take place on the same evening as the televised virtual draft! let’s spice it up. It will be chaotic, exciting and fun; 4. teams will be permitted to expand their rosters by one player for the 2019-2021 Season; 5. As far as free agency goes, all player contracts will be extended through December 15th. There will be a trade window / free agent signing period from Dec 16 - 20, chaotic with play continuing on December 25th. This will be crazy fun; either many will re-sign or there could be several movements that will make the 40 tensing games of 2021 super fun. 6. NBA tournament will be played as usual with a few twists; (20) total teams qualify Bottom (8) teams (based on 2019-2021 Season records) will play a one-game elimination game at a Regional Stadium. This will narrow the field to (16) teams; Based upon 2021 records (those added 40 games), the seedings will be determined for ROUND 1: best of 5 games (two / two / one format); this cuts the field to (8) teams; ROUND 2: best of 5 games (two / two / one format) this brings you to the final four teams; ROUND 3: best of 5 games (two / two / one format), resulting in a Finals match up ROUND 4: NBA Finals - 7-game series. Home court will be determined by overall Season Record (all 122 games) and the series will be played two / three / two format. All teams will have time and opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. This format both rewards teams like the Bucks and Lakers, is fair for the bubble teams (especially in the West), allows for a Draft to build some excitement, based upon current standings yet giving every team a shot at a #1-10 lottery. Deals with the free agent issue by creating a mid-December Trade/Free Agent major scramble (how fun!) and a 2021 (40 games) that hopefully sees teams playing back before their home crowds, some teams with new players via trade & free-agent signings; Anthony Davis could wind up a NY Knick for Christmas....Whiteside could re-signs with the Blazers once everyone sees the success of Whiteside / Nurkic tandem in the middle, etc. and everything wraps up in late June 2021 so that heading into 2022 is back to normal! predictions: after playing this out, there will be changes made for aligning a trade deadline / draft lottery / draft / free agent signings - all within the same week! This could really make GM’s work for their money. Players will have a voice? And a revised playoff structure will be found as beneficial. More teams, with shorter series. Finally, a 70-game schedule for 2022 and reformatting of current Divisional structure.
The bucks get deemed the champion of 2019 season A Let the draft happen in June like normal. Start a tournament to deem the champion the 2019 season B Champions of each season play to win the ring
I think this is a great idea, Boom. I love the idea of an 122 game season. It will special footnote in the history of the game. It lets the Bucks hang on to their current record to build on and gives other teams a chance to improve their standing. Very well thought out. I love every single thing in your proposal.
On some levels it’s complicated yet as a whole, it’s simplistic in its fairness. The situation the NBA finds itself is totally complicated!
No. They can not pay players for games missed as that's in CBA. Other changes outside the CBA have to be agreed by the union. Players wont want to take huge paycuts to combine into two seasons. Owners won't want to pay salaries when there is no revenue. That'll add another hurdle to negotiate beside what system seems to make sense.
well, my rationale is to extend by calendar time but remain true to the remaining 15-17 games. At this point we’d be at December 15th (as per my proposal) and players would have to be re-signed, traded (or sign & trade) or signed by a new team with play commencing December 25th for the 2021 additional 40 games.
certainly could. My proposal of playing in “regional stadiums” is due to economics and moreover, safety for players, coaches, broadcasters, etc. There would be less travel going on. TV crews could stay in place. There would be positive economic benefit to these selected regional communities (the hotels housing teams, stadium jobs, etc.) and this may be unfair. But it’s the safest way to approach the games (Oct 15 - Dec 15) as COVID-19 will not have been eradicated nor a vaccine developed. my hope would be that by Dec 25, we could begin playing games (with fans) however if the virus remains a problem, then the 40 games of 2021 would stay as regionally played games.
continue it like normal. cancel summer league. draft on a later date. shortened summer. start back up in October. they get paid millions of dollars. they can deal with a shortened summer.
I would like the league to restructure into 4 divisions that don't play each other until the playoffs and stop the ridiculous travel...entertainment as well should stop with the touring constantly and settle down...I think your idea for resolving this season and next is brilliant though...well thought out
In each conference... 10 vs 7, 9 vs 8. Winners are 7th and 8th seed - 5 game series. Then, playoffs begin as normal. So, in the West, Blazers-Grizz and Pels-Mavs (Sac out via tiebreaker), both of which would be entertaining. In the East, Magic-Wiz and Nets-Hornets.
I disagree...the owners already know how to make money but if they bleed a bit now they may survive as a league, if they don't, they may lose their league...they already lost a huge fortune in the Chinese market with the Rockets fiasco....3 Ball is ready to step in and entertain right now...the NBA has to give fans a reason to stick around
The NBA is not going to fold over a missed season. It may or may not depress revenues for a short time--even that I'm not sure of, since this won't be due to a labor dispute, which tends to turn fans off. Losing a season due to a pandemic isn't going to create bad feelings. People will be itching for the return of the NBA. The Big Three is in no way a replacement.
