First, hear me out.
I know you old schoolers enjoy the current legacy product of 82 games and a playoff tournament. It’s time to move into the future.
Imagine the NBA added 6 new franchises. Let’s say Vegas, Seattle, St. Louis, Kansas City, Pittsburg, San Diego, and Austin (I would want Monterrey but ninjas ain’t bout that Mexican life). Maybe move New Orleans to Nashville and OKC to Tampa.
That’s 36 teams. Here is where it gets fun.
Have two leagues. 24 teams in the premier league and 12 in the second league. With all the TV money, the owners will be straight. Players still get their 49% but spread over more players. Change the max and raise the floor.
The Premier playoffs will still consist of 16 teams. The 8 non playoff teams will in a tournament where the top four will remain in the premier league. The bottom four will be relegated to the lower division.
The NIT division will have a tournament where the top four will be added to the premier league the following season. The NIT league will automatically get the first 12 draft picks that can’t be traded. The bottom 8 premier teams will be in a lottery system for picks 13-20.
The NIT teams can “loan out their players after 60% of the games are played for an unregulated amount. Trades can still happen as well.
With two divisions, the quality of play will grow substantially. No more rest days because you fear the regulation tournament and possibly drop to the lower league. We get to see player movement as well. Imagine is the Lakers are in the NIT and decide to loan out Lebron to the Knicks for their playoff run.
Owners will want to invest in their team because the premier league sees a bigger cut of the media money. Fans will come to the games regardless.
We can get rid of the divisions and just have rivalry games where you play your rivals 3 times a year. Still have an inter-league mid season tournament. Cut the season to 62 games that allow for more rest. All star weekend will be different with the two leagues still able to showcase their best.
It could be a win for the league and fans. Sucks for the players but more players will be added to the league and player development will be paramount. Bad franchises will be penalized and be in purgatory until they get their team straight. No more tanking. No more resting. The regular season will mean something.
This will never happen but would it make for a better product.
Thoughts?
I know you old schoolers enjoy the current legacy product of 82 games and a playoff tournament. It’s time to move into the future.
Imagine the NBA added 6 new franchises. Let’s say Vegas, Seattle, St. Louis, Kansas City, Pittsburg, San Diego, and Austin (I would want Monterrey but ninjas ain’t bout that Mexican life). Maybe move New Orleans to Nashville and OKC to Tampa.
That’s 36 teams. Here is where it gets fun.
Have two leagues. 24 teams in the premier league and 12 in the second league. With all the TV money, the owners will be straight. Players still get their 49% but spread over more players. Change the max and raise the floor.
The Premier playoffs will still consist of 16 teams. The 8 non playoff teams will in a tournament where the top four will remain in the premier league. The bottom four will be relegated to the lower division.
The NIT division will have a tournament where the top four will be added to the premier league the following season. The NIT league will automatically get the first 12 draft picks that can’t be traded. The bottom 8 premier teams will be in a lottery system for picks 13-20.
The NIT teams can “loan out their players after 60% of the games are played for an unregulated amount. Trades can still happen as well.
With two divisions, the quality of play will grow substantially. No more rest days because you fear the regulation tournament and possibly drop to the lower league. We get to see player movement as well. Imagine is the Lakers are in the NIT and decide to loan out Lebron to the Knicks for their playoff run.
Owners will want to invest in their team because the premier league sees a bigger cut of the media money. Fans will come to the games regardless.
We can get rid of the divisions and just have rivalry games where you play your rivals 3 times a year. Still have an inter-league mid season tournament. Cut the season to 62 games that allow for more rest. All star weekend will be different with the two leagues still able to showcase their best.
It could be a win for the league and fans. Sucks for the players but more players will be added to the league and player development will be paramount. Bad franchises will be penalized and be in purgatory until they get their team straight. No more tanking. No more resting. The regular season will mean something.
This will never happen but would it make for a better product.
Thoughts?
They will do all that shyt before they do whats really needed...cut the regular season or the playoffs. Its 2023 nobody is gonna be invested in an 82 game marathon just because. Either have fewer RS games so players actually play and try or have fewer playoff teams so players actually play and try. Thats what people will tune in to see.
