Explaining how group play should work and benefit Orlando Magic, NBA

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Orlando Magic, Evan Fournier, Wesley Matthews, Milwaukee Bucks

Evan Fournier faces the biggest decision of the Orlando Magic’s offseason and Wesley Matthews could be the guy to replace him. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The NBA is considering several plans to return to play as the board of governors comes close to a decision. Here is why group play is the best way to return.

The NBA came out of a conference call with its board of governors Friday one step closer to returning to play.

The league has targeted July 31 as its return date — giving teams ample time to go through a training camp and get back to some playing shape before games begin. But how the league will return is still a matter up for debate.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports the league is planning to approve commissioner Adam Silver’s recommendation to return to play with either 20 or 22 teams at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney. That call is expected to take place Thursday. But there are still some things to work out before then.

Owners are largely planning to pledge support for Silver's final recommedation on a plan, which teams expect to include invitations for 20-to-22 teams to resume the season, sources tell @ramonashelburne, @ZachLowe_NBA and me. https://t.co/8waxNm1Dpc
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 29, 2020

This was good news for NBA fans because the season’s resumption is on its way. There is light at the end of this tunnel.

But the how of the NBA’s return and the way the rest of the season will play out is still completely unknown. The league does not have that part nailed down yet.

This week, group play ideas began circulating around NBA twitter. And while there are still calls to simplify the NBA’s return to play, most notably from John Hollinger of The Athletic (subscription required). There is nothing simple about this.

A group/stage play idea is the only way to balance the interests of the teams at the top and the teams at the bottom while still respecting the regular season.

And I think I have a plan to make a group play system work.