There will be a slightly revised look to the league the Otago Nuggets hope to enter in 2021.
Following recent withdrawals, the National Basketball League (NBL) has changed its optimal number of teams to eight to 10, rather than 10-12.
That primarily comes as a result of the Tasmanian Southern Huskies franchise folding.
The NBL had originally seen it as beneficial to have a second Australian team, making the trip across the Tasman more worthwhile.
Now the focus would remain within New Zealand.
"We stated from the start of the year that should we have two franchises based in Australia, our optimum model was 10 to 12 teams," league general manager Justin Nelson said.
"But this is no longer on our radar with the Huskies now gone. From here we'll focus on our own backyard and work on eight to 10 teams as being our optimum model."
Alongside the Huskies' withdrawal, the Auckland-based Supercity Rangers were terminated following outstanding debts with the league.
It leaves the NBL without an Auckland presence, although it was a void Nelson hoped to fill.
"Since moving away from the Rangers we have received a lot of contact from people in Auckland.
"There is no doubt the feeling is one of wanting an engaged, financial and sustainable franchise.
So we'll see what happens over the next year."
However, it leaves the league with just seven teams for next season.
The schedule is to be released in the coming weeks and will feature all teams playing each other three times.
Both the Nuggets and Franklin Bulls have been granted provisional entry to the league for 2021.
The biggest hurdle to that remains getting together the funds to run the teams.
Nelson said sustainability remained a focus for the league and all its teams.
The NBL would be happy with eight teams should one of the bids not be ready.
Meanwhile he reiterated the league was an unfortunate "middle-man" in the fall out with the Huskies.
"We're learning a little more each day since receiving the news from the Huskies late last week.
"From where we sit it unfortunately looks like a number of different groups in Tasmania have failed to work together, and of course money and politics seem to be at the middle of it all."
