While the NBA owners could conceivably rip up the current collective bargaining if the players decide not to participate in its return-to-play plan, the conventional thinking is that they would strongly prefer to not want to go in that direction.

"The talent is irreplaceable," said Zach Lowe on his podcast. "The players have leverage right now. It's easy to say that the players do not have as much leverage as they seem to because what's looming on the other side, which is if they decide not to play, the owners will rip up the collective bargaining agreement. There's going to be a lockout (if the season is canceled).

"But I have news for you: the owners don't want to do that. This is a financial disaster for them too. They would really like to play this season and recoup the hundreds of millions of dollars that's sitting there. They would really like to find a way to play next season. Even though they have more resources than the players, they do not want to go a year-and-a-half without basketball, even if the other side of it is a CBA where they get five percentage points more of basketball related income than they do now."

Lowe also said he still believes the NBA will move forward with its return-to-play plan with the cooperation of the players.