Wizards expected to be part of 22-team season restarting plan, according to report

On Friday, Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported that the NBA targeting a resumption of its season on July 31.

With travel bans removed on some overseas players in the European Union’s Schengen Area and this date, there is also a clearer picture on when this season will end, assuming games start.

Charania first reported on Friday morning that the NBA’s general managers were surveyed on various things they would like to see, such as how long the season goes and how a playoff format will look like. Most GMs want the season to end by Oct. 1. and most GMs also want an expanded playoff field where 20 or more teams participate.

That survey was coupled with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaking with the Board of Governors on four scenarios to resume the season which range from an immediate start to the playoffs, a 20 or 22 team playoff field, or a 72-game regular season with play-in postseason games.

Of the four proposals Charania laid out, it’s most likely that 22 teams will resume their seasons. The 22 teams will include teams that are ranked in the Top-8 of their conference as well as teams that are within six games of the eighth seed according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Since the Washington Wizards are ninth place and 5.5 games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed, they will be playing under a 22-team proposal.

Still, it’s unclear whether Washington will get a chance to continue their season this summer or not. That’s because a 20-team proposal is still possible. In this scenario, the Wizards are probably not getting invited to continue play.

Regardless, it is looking likely that not all 30 teams will return, but hopefully we’ll get to see the Wizards play a few more games in this eventful season with this 22-team plan.