PHOENIX SUNS

Woj: NBA return-to-play plan focused on including Suns, expected to pass

Jun 1, 2020, 9:50 AM | Updated: 1:35 pm
Phoenix Suns guard Ricky Rubio (11) drives as Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee (1) defends du...

Phoenix Suns guard Ricky Rubio (11) drives as Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee (1) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Phoenix. The Warriors won 115-99. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

The NBA is focused on including 22 teams in a return but will spend from now until Thursday to work out finer details of a 2019-20 resumption that could include the Phoenix Suns, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

“They’re lining up behind (commissioner) Adam Silver and they’re ready to move toward a plan he, the players’ association … work together on,” Wojnarowski said on Monday’s edition of Get Up. “There’s a lot of focus right now … on a 22-team model of bringing teams back to Orlando in a play-in situation.

“The league is still digging down on details of what that would look like and they’re going to spend this week finalizing the structure, the format of a return-to-play.”

There is still not a certainty Phoenix would be included as the NBA comes back from a coronavirus-caused hiatus. On Friday, ESPN reported that a 20-team plan was still “alive.”

That said, it appears the NBA is still leaning toward allowing teams within six games of the playoffs to participate. At 26-39, the Suns are exactly six games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento and San Antonio are all ahead of Phoenix and behind Memphis in the standings. In the Eastern Conference, only one current non-playoff team, the Washington Wizards, will return to play in the discussed 22-team scenario.

It appears the NBA wants some form of the regular season to tip off a return so teams have time to shake off rust before entering into a true postseason, regardless of the number of teams involved or the format. In the 22-team plan, it is expected a brief return of the regular season followed by a play-in tournament would lead into the playoffs.

Wojnarowski added that a final plan is expected to “overwhelmingly pass.” The league needs a three-fourths majority of owners to approve the plan, and that is expected to be voted upon Thursday.

The NBA season was halted March 11.

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker #1 and Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the third quarter against the ...
Kellan Olson

What happened to the Phoenix Suns in the clutch this season?

The Phoenix Suns went from a historically good team in the clutch last season to a bad one this year. What happened?
12 hours ago
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives around Phoenix Suns forward Torr...
Kevin Zimmerman

What’s at stake in each of the Suns’ remaining games?

Kevin Durant's potential return from an ankle injury after a reevaluation sits a week out for the Phoenix Suns.
2 days ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket past Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns collapse in 4th quarter of road loss to Thunder

The Suns were in control for most of Sunday's game against the Thunder but bad turnovers eventually caught up to them.
4 days ago
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)...
Wills Rice

Landry Shamet plays well in Suns return, loss to Thunder

The Suns collapsed late in the 124-120 loss to the Thunder on Sunday in guard Landry Shamet's return after missing 25 games to a heel injury.
4 days ago
Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns high fives Landry Shamet #14 after scoring against the Washin...
Arizona Sports

Suns rule Deandre Ayton out, Landry Shamet probable vs. Thunder

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton will not suit up Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a right hip contusion.
5 days ago
Radio broadcaster Al McCoy following the NBA game between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunde...
Arizona Sports

Phoenix Suns’ 2022-23 season will be Al McCoy’s last

This Phoenix Suns season will be the last for legendary broadcaster Al McCoy as the team's play-by-play voice on Arizona Sports 98.7.
6 days ago
Woj: NBA return-to-play plan focused on including Suns, expected to pass