It is becoming increasingly clear that Adam Silver is going to be a sports commissioner to watch. Taking over for David Stern was no easy task but Silver has since quickly managed to begin crafting a legacy of innovative thinking and bold ideas to differentiate himself from his predecessor.
One huge idea that Silver is considering is adding a midseason tournament.
Silver said the league is considering the idea of a midseason tournament, similar to soccer. Interesting. #nba
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) July 16, 2014
A possible venue for the hypothetical tournament would be in Las Vegas:
Silver said the NBA is considering a mid-season tournament, possibly in Las Vegas.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 16, 2014
A midseason tournament, given time, could be a valuable asset to the league. It could help generate more interest in the NBA (especially if the format is much shorter and prone to upsets than the actual NBA playoffs). Heck, it would give fan bases of teams who have no shot at the playoffs something to look forward to at the very least.
On the other hand, a proposed tournament is not without risks. The regular season schedule would likely have to be changed to accommodate the players’ bodies. The NBA season is such a grind already that the league can’t simply add a tournament to the season without cutting back elsewhere. Players would need to be sufficiently motivated to make this hypothetical tournament any more exciting or competitive than any All-Star game as well. Lastly, there’s the question of whether there should be stakes attached to a midseason tournament outside of prestige. Stakes would provide motivation for franchises but the consequences of having the tournament mean something (whether that be playoff implications or offseason acquisitions like draft picks or draft position) would have to be carefully considered before being implemented.
Still, it’s this type of thinking that demonstrates that Adam Silver is not simply content to ride the wave of the league’s popularity. While there is nothing concrete, the thought process behind it demonstrates how Silver is willing to think outside-the-box to improve the NBA. A midseason tournament would be a bold change to the NBA, but it’s great to see a commissioner who is willing to take risks to provide a better product.
