Relegation is the only solution in all the big pro leagues. Otherwise, owners have no incentive to actually be competitive. Easily the biggest misconception we have as sports fans is the belief owners want to win. Owners want to make a profit. If you force underachieving owners to work in a mid-tier market, where the only exit route is by making the team you have good enough to compete in the upper tier, it solves a bunch of problems at once. Otherwise, you have internet jerks advocating the Process while a family of four pays over $300 to see a game in Philly involving D-League players.
Is it complicated to initiate? Of course. Would the players union agree to it? Hah! But it’s the only way the NBA (which has been way more top-heavy historically than the other leagues) would ever truly thrive. I’ve been pitching relegation for years. It was pretty stunning to read arch-enemy Adam Silver himself mention the idea. The NBA badly needs a top-tier (10 teams) league.
