Is it possible that the NBA might be growing soon? According to Commissioner Adam Silver, the association is preparing to take the initial official measure in this direction.
During the Board of Governors gathering in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Silver informed members of the media that team owners have directed the NBA to undertake a thorough examination of all available choices. This is a modest but vital item to address in the extensive list of tasks associated with expanding the league, and it could pave the way for the inclusion of a 31st team.
Silver had previously alluded to the possibility of expansion, and he stated just last month that the matter could be brought up for debate. While it hasn’t been a prominent item on the league’s agenda recently, it may now take precedence given that other significant matters like the CBA and media rights agreement have been resolved.
“I believe this represents a major advance, as we are now commencing this comprehensive evaluation, a step we were previously unable to take,” Silver stated through The Associated Press. “However, beyond that, it’s essentially Day 1 of that thorough evaluation. As such, it’s premature to discuss pricing or potential timing. It is truly a complex undertaking.”
Could Seattle once again be home to an NBA team? Adam Silver has suggested the possibility of expansion, but there’s no set schedule yet.
Jasmyn Wimbish
The NBA’s finance and strategy advisory committees will oversee the assessment. While there is no defined schedule for this procedure, it might be a subject of discussion when the board of governors reconvenes, likely in September.
Seattle is the most apparent contender to secure an expansion team; however, other cities would almost certainly express interest. Las Vegas is swiftly emerging as a prominent sports destination, having recently acquired NHL and NFL franchises and is approaching the addition of its first MLB team. These two cities would likely be the frontrunners in the pursuit of a franchise, and the NBA could maintain an even number of teams if it chose both.
Bringing basketball back to Seattle and introducing Las Vegas to the league would ease the travel demands on the rest of the Western Conference. It would also tap into two substantial markets and offer restitution to a Pacific Northwest metropolis that has long believed it was treated unfairly when the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.
The NBA’s most recent period of expansion occurred over two decades ago, when the Charlotte Bobcats joined the league for the 2004-05 season. A challenge associated with adding teams is the dilution of the existing franchises’ ownership stake in the league and its financial structure. However, with the NBA finalizing new media rights deals amounting to $76 billion, now may be the opportune moment to act.
