The NBA is hoping to roll out a slew of changes that will trickle down over the next few years if approved by the NBA Players Association and the league’s partner networks. Among them is the potential to swap out the broadcasting of games that are no longer of much appeal for more compelling ones.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe noted as much in his summation of events from a recent memo sent out to all 30 teams and network partners.

“On a semi-related note, the NBA and its broadcast partners — ESPN included — have recently discussed the possibility and feasibility of more aggressively “flexing” out scheduled national TV games that do not look as appealing in light of injuries and team performance, sources said. Some mega-teams — the Lakers, for example — will never be flexed regardless of injury. On some national TV nights, there are few alternatives on the schedule.”

The league usually rolls out a TV schedule for its affiliated networks: ESPN, TNT, and ABC, along with the league-owned NBA TV that features games whenever the main partner networks are not broadcasting their preset matchups.

For example, despite an injury to Klay Thompson, the NBA featured a lot of the Golden State Warriors games for the entire 2019-20 season, which had been a boon for the league for the past five-plus years. Yet no one would have anticipated a long-term injury to Stephen Curry and nicks to D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green — leaving an unrecognizable starting lineup that is simply unappealing to the average viewer.

Replacing a Warriors vs. Pelicans matchup (without No. 1 pick Zion Williamson) would allow the league to gain some viewership by “flexing” out to a different game (if available) and thus increase ratings and revenue.

Same can be said for teams that are resting players or even out of the playoff race later in the season, as the league aims to maximize its appeal and maintain steady viewership in the wake of China’s decision to pull away from broadcasting NBA games.