The NBA has decided how and when it will return this summer: report

We now know how and when the NBA will return to play this summer, according to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The plan, which is expected to be officially approved by the NBA Board of Governors on Thursday morning, calls for 22 teams to return on July 31 at Disney World in Orlando. Joining the current 16 playoff teams will be six teams that are within six games of the playoffs.

So the NBA's inviting 22 teams to Orlando: 13 Western Conference, 9 Eastern Conference. Eight-regular season games per team. Play-in for the 8th seeds. July 31-October 12. Vote tomorrow to ratify.
The NBA's back.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 3, 2020

After a few months off of Basketball, Trail Blazers’ star Damian Lillard said that he will return to workouts and practice with his team, but “would not play in meaningless games” should the league return without the Blazers in a playoff picture.

Ahead of tomorrow’s vote, teams with a shot to earn a last-minute playoff spot include Portland, which is great news for Rip City.

The list of invited teams includes five teams in the West:

• Portland Trail Blazers
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Sacramento Kings
• San Antonio Spurs
• Phoenix Suns

And one team in the East:

• Washington Wizards

Each of the 22 teams will play eight regular-season games before starting the playoffs, but that’s when this gets complicated.

Sources: Joining the 16 current playoff teams in Orlando: New Orleans, Portland, Phoenix, Sacramento and San Antonio in the West and Washington in the East. If the 9th seed is more than 4 games behind the 8th, No. 8 makes playoffs; Fewer than 4 games, a play-in tournament.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 3, 2020

The top eight teams in each conference will make the playoffs as normal, unless the No. 9 team is within four games of No. 8. Should that happen, a play-in series will occur, requiring double elimination for the No. 8 team, and just single elimination for No. 9.

• See also:
  • Damian Lillard says he won’t play if Trail Blazers’ games are “meaningless”
  • Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts speaks out against racism
  • Trail Blazers “devastated and frustrated” over racial injustice in America

All games will be played without fans in attendance at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Orlando, with teams staying at one of Disney’s many nearby hotels. The season will end before October 12.

Here’s a look at the current NBA standings:

NBA.com

NBA.com