Report: Small-market teams want in on restart

Resuming the NBA season with the top 22 teams in July remains the most probable option for the league, but ESPN reported several small-market teams want all 30 clubs to be involved in resuming the 2019-2020 season. A formal vote will take place Thursday, setting the path for the NBA to play games as early as July 22.

But ESPN reported Monday that Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett implored those on the Board of Governors call Friday to consider the financial ramifications for small-market franchises without games and game-related income for eight or nine months. Bennett, per ESPN, asked owners to accommodate all 30 teams in the plan to resume play.

As many as five teams will be included in the play-in portion of the conference playoffs. For example, in the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are within reasonable striking distance of the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis is the No. 8 seed in the current standings. ESPN reported those teams currently not included in the revised playoff field are pushing for a formal training camp over the summer.

The concern of those teams is being separated from players from March until November or December, when next season is expected to begin, would be detrimental. --Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)