Expansion Could Create Push For NBA To Also Eliminate Conferences, Allow Top-16 To Reach Playoffs

[RealGM Wiretap]

The NBA continues to have an imbalance in quality teams between the Western and Eastern Conference. With the NBA expected to expand in the coming years with Seattle and Las Vegas the two most likely cities, the league will need to move one team out of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans to the Eastern Conference.

But there could be a push for a more dramatic change where the conference structure is eliminated in order to allow the top 16 teams to make the playoffs. The concept has been raised previously.

"It would be the right thing to do for the health of the league," one West general manager said. "It's not just about fairness, it's about giving the fans the best playoff product."

In order for the measure to be approved, 23 teams or more than 75 percent of the league, would have to support it. This would require eight of the 15 East owners to vote against their own self-interest.

Via Brian Windhorst, Tim MacMahon/ESPN

[Sactown4Life]

8 EC teams would never vote themselves out of the post season...so highly unlikely or almost impossible to ever happen. Should just go with NBA/ABA conferences that mix both coasts together

[Pickled Prunes]

The top-16 aren't even the top-16 because teams in the better conference play each other more often, giving the weaker conference a leg up.

This is a problem better handled through further lottery reform. Reduce the lottery to 7-9 teams and disentangle it with making a playoff berth. A tenth seed shouldn't lose their lottery pick because they won the play-in. A 10th seed shouldn't even be eligible for the #1 pick, but teams definitely shouldn't get a lower draft position because they win a game or two in April.