LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers … [+] celebrate a basket during a 112-103 win over the LA Clippers at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The NBA is eyeing a July restart that will feature 13 Western Conference teams and nine from the Eastern Conference, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The top eight seeds in the West would be joined by Carmelo Anthony and Portland, Zion Williamson and New Orleans, Sacramento, San Antonio and Phoenix.
In the East, the only team joining the top eight would be Washington. The proposed plan would leave the Knicks, among others, on the outside looking in.
“The Board of Governors are going to pass whatever the plan that Adam Silver and the Players Association bring them,” Woj said Tuesday on “Get Up.”
“They have zeroed in on a 22-team format, likely the 16 teams that are in the playoff, 1-8 in both conferences right now, and then six more teams, likely five in the Western Conference, one in the East, Washington.”
Wojnarowki added that “the details of what that’s going to look like is going to be presented to the owners, what the structure and format is.”
As has been reported, the plan is to restart in Orlando with games starting “sometime in July.”
LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers are the No. 1 seed in the West, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are the top seed in the East.
The NBA restart will almost certainly include Williamson, the No. 1 pick in 2019 and the Pelicans, who are 28-36 and 3 1/2 games behind the No. 8 seed.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the … [+] Miami Heat during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
In the East, there is widespread speculation about whether Kevin Durant, who has yet to play this season, and/or Kyrie Irving, who underwent shoulder surgery earlier in March will return for the No. 7 Brooklyn Nets.
The plan includes not only Williamson, Luka Doncic of Dallas and Ja Morant of Memphis, but could also feature a Washington team with John Wall and Bradley Beal, who has said he’s flattered to be linked to trade rumors to the Nets.
“That’s some interesting big-name talent that the NBA could put on display once they get back to playing basketball,” ESPN analyst Jalen Rose said on “Get Up.”
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