The Wollongong Hawks were prepared to sell home games to Canberra before going into voluntary administration with a view to rebuilding an NBL presence in the capital more than a decade after the Cannons went bust.
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But after the Townsville Crocodiles joined the Hawks in becoming insolvent, Hall of Famer Cal Bruton says if the NBL is reduced to six teams it's time to "blow it up" to give the league a fresh start.
Five-time Olympian Andrew Gaze led calls on Wednesday for the NBL to shut down operations for the 2015-16 season to rebuild.
Hawks representatives met with the ACT government about moving at least two games to the capital for the next NBL season to grow the relationship over a number of years.
It would help fill the gap of professional basketball in Canberra 12 years after the Cannons went broke, with hope the capital would be able to re-enter the competition in the future.
There were hopes Canberra would be readmitted to the NBL this year and sponsors had indicated they would support a team, but the league cut funding to its expansion program and imposed a $1 million fee on new clubs wanting to join.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed the Hawks had approached the government.
"I have met with representatives from the Wollongong Hawks to discuss the possibility of Canberra hosting home games," Barr said.
"We are always keen to look at new and exciting entertaining options for Canberra. In this instance, however, it's unlikely the government will be able to host the Hawks for next season."
Gaze fears for the sport's future, declaring the crisis-torn league is "broken" with only six teams confirmed to start next season.
"I have never held this view at all throughout this challenging phase of the NBL, but I have reached a position where I think they are better off regrouping and shutting it down," Gaze said on his SEN radio program.
"Even if these two teams [Wollongong and Townsville] somehow find a way to get through administration, nothing is going to change significantly to turn around their plight because it's a slow burn.
"So shut it down, regroup and get the right model because the model is broken."
Former Cannons coach Bruton implored officials to shift the season from summer to winter and learn from soccer's resurrection through the A-League.
"The NBL should be our showcase. There is a bright future, if you want lessons you just have to look at the A-League, they've done it," Bruton said.
"Get a think tank together, go back to basics. Do the homework and if someone like Gina Rinehart decides to step in and buy it up, learn from what Frank Lowy did with the A-League to resurrect it.
"It's a winter sport, we need to move to winter. There's no doubt about that. If there's only six teams maybe blow it up. Who wants to see New Zealand play Perth six times a year?"
Basketball has struggled to find calm waters in recent years, with teams regularly going bust and doubts about the league's future.
Former Canberra Gunner Anthony Petrie, who plays for the Adelaide 36ers, is all too familiar with the highs and lows of the sport.
Petrie has put unwavering faith in the ailing NBL, and has found a way to continue his career despite four of his previous clubs going broke, including the Hawks.
Basketball should be booming after Canberra's Patrick Mills and fellow Australian Aron Baynes winning the NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs last year.
"It feels a bit like groundhog day ... I was at Wollongong and I went through it with the Gold Coast. It's not nice, it's a horrible feeling and I feel for the league at the moment," Petrie said.
"I'm not across it well enough so I can't comment [on the Hawks and Townsville]. But you think, 'not again, seriously'.
"The league is the strongest I've ever seen it. Some of the clubs are doing a great job. People are saying look at the A-League. But what do guys do if there's no competition next year?"
