This would be awsome. If you don't really care about gameplay, and you mostly play Franchise and simulate, you don't need NBA Live.
Agreed, and it's an idea that's been brought up before. Unfortunately, I would say pretty much everyone who buys NBA Live buys it so they can actually play the games, controlling NBA players. I think there's probably more basketball fans who would rather control virtual NBA players than just simulate - or at least, they'd want both.
So, why don't EA make a game without gameplay, but with just managing a team. That way it can be soooo realistic, it's the funnest game ever.
As I said before, most people find fun in taking control of virtual NBA players, not simulating in the frontend. I don't see people spending $70 (well, that's the Australian price for the PC version at least) on a basketball game that has no gameplay - at least enough people for EA to make a profit.
If the game has no gameplay, then EA can spend soo much time making the managing part of the NBA sooo great.
But it likely wouldn't appeal to as many people as NBA Live, which could have both gameplay and additions to Franchise Mode, such as the ones you have suggested.
Well, that kind of a game would be the best basketball game ever.
I'm sorry, but I must strongly disagree. Since NBA Live 95, the whole idea of the series has been the ability to control an NBA team and all the players, with more and more general manager stuff added over the years - multiple seasons, the rookie draft, free agency and so on. I think a basketball game with gameplay will prove to be more popular than one without, because there's a greater level of interaction and better replay value.