FanPost

NBA expansion to 36 teams, realignment, and contracted season ideas.

Grant expansion franchises to Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis and Seattle, yet not all in one season, but rather 2 teams per season. Instead of holding expansion drafts involving veteran players, I think it makes more sense to give expansion teams a lot of extra draft choices, while taking them away from playoff teams. This way expansion franchises can start from scratch and build their teams the right way.

Then switch the Bucks and Bulls to the Western Conference, while switching the Grizzlies and Pelicans to the Eastern Conference. Also switch the Central Division to the Western Conference while replacing the Northwest Division with the Northeast Division.

Atlantic Division: Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

Northeast Division: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

Southeast Division: Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, Miami, New Orleans and Orlando.

Central Division: Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minnesota and Saint Louis.

Southwest Division: Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Antonio and Utah.

Pacific Division: Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, Portland, Sacramento and Seattle.

Contract the regular season to 72 games, including 3 home and 3 road vs. division opponents = 30 + 1 home and 1 road vs. conference opponents = 24 + a single game vs. non-conference opponents = 18. Contract the post-season by reducing all playoff rounds to best of 5, except for the NBA Finals, which remains best of 7. The reason for all of this contraction is to guarantee that the NBA Champion is crowned by Memorial Day, because June is not basketball season, nor is it hockey season for that matter, as I have a similar idea regarding the NHL.

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.