...the play-offs.

It's very likely that they're going to be the only game in town when this starts, so they'd like to give some of their young talent be on prime-time. They figure a player like Zion is still going to be ratings gold, so they're going to give him the opportunity to get in.

Personally, I don't love this half-measure. Either start directly with the play-offs with the teams already in or let every team in league play their final eight-games.