Report: NBA May Bring 8 Non-Bubble Teams to Orlando After Postseason Is Set
August 7, 2020
The NBA is still working to find an outlet for the eight teams not included in the Florida campus restart to get an opportunity to play games in a league-approved setting.
Per The Athletic's Sam Amick, one option that was brought up on a Wednesday call with the board of governors suggested bringing the eight teams to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando after eliminated clubs leave the campus.
When the NBA developed the campus concept to finish this season, 22 of the league's 30 teams were invited to participate based on their record at the time play was suspended on March 11.
The eight teams sitting out—Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers—were hoping for a site of their own to avoid a potential nine-month layoff from competition depending on when the 2020-21 season begins.
ESPN's Jackie MacMullan reported on July 2 the NBA was in "deep discussions" about creating a second bubble in Chicago for those eight clubs to have a minicamp and play games.
Another option that the NBA shot down, per Marc Berman of the New York Post, would have seen those teams hold mandatory organized team activities at their facilities.
Under the NBA's current schedule, the seeding games will end on Aug. 13, with a potential play-in tournament for the No. 8 seed in both conferences taking place from Aug. 15-16.
By the end of those games, the NBA campus field will have been narrowed from 22 teams to 16. Eight more teams will be on their way home by the time the second round of the postseason is scheduled to begin on Aug. 31.