The NBA Could Expand Into Seattle And Las Vegas

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The NBA hasn't added an expansion franchise in quite some time. Their last expansion franchise was the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. However, there are some rumors around the league that suggest that the NBA could definitely consider expansion.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet has recently shared that it is "widely believed" that the NBA will expand. The Seattle Supersonics could make a comeback. They are an iconic team, and as Seattle is a potential destination for expansion, we could see a revival for the Sonics. The article is focused on Toronto Raptors' GM Masai Ujiri's options come free agency, and it mentions joining an expansion team as one avenue.

A more tangible option might be NBA expansion and the opportunity it could provide to become part of an ownership group.

The obvious connection is with Tim Leiweke, who recruited Ujiri to the Raptors in 2013 when he ran MLSE. Leiweke is now co-founder of the Oakview Group, who helped land the NHL’s Seattle Kraken expansion franchise and redevelop Key Arena, and whose brother, Tod, is one of the Kraken’s owners.

It’s widely believed the NBA will expand for the first time since rounding out to 30 teams in 2004 partly to recoup losses from the pandemic. Returning to Seattle as part of the process is almost a given (with Las Vegas as the other likely city) now that the arena issues that led to the Supersonics leaving for Oklahoma City in 2008 have been resolved.

“If there is expansion, he’s definitely going to get his opportunities,” said one league insider.

But there is no timetable for that, and typically there is a minimum two-year lag between franchises being awarded and play beginning. And given the league hasn’t formally announced any plan to expand, it makes little sense for Ujiri to remain on the sidelines passing up an opportunity to be the highest-paid executive in the sport while waiting for a day that could be years in the future.

Grange establishes that the expansion is on the table, while also adding that there is a "two-year lag between franchises being awarded and play beginning". Las Vegas and Seattle are both popular cities that would bring viewership. It seems as though there is still some time before we see an expansion team actually play, it seems that it could be in the works due to the losses from the pandemic. Having two new NBA teams would be amazing, and many new fans would certainly flock to the game.