NBA commissioner Adam Silver has clarified his comments regarding changing the league's playoff format and insisted that he doesn't foresee it happening until the 2016-17 season at the earliest.

Silver discussed the possibility last week, whereby the NBA playoffs would consist of the top 16 teams in the league regardless of conference.

"There is a lot to be said for taking a fresh look at our seedings and ensuring the very best teams are competing in the playoffs," Silver said, USA Today reports.

"I should've been slightly more cautious in my response only because there is a long tradition in terms of our conference system. There are some important logistic issues we need to examine in terms of travel [and schedules]. It's fair to say it's something that requires a very strong examination."

Silver's system changes come in response to criticism of the current format in which many struggling teams in the East still make the post-season.