NBA Expansion Coming Soon? Silver Touches on Topic, Potential Portland Sale
The NBA may finally be taking a step closer on the long journey toward expansion. Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned on Tuesday that team owners have a “curiosity” about the idea, and the league will now conduct a more formal study of the matter as part of a comprehensive analysis direct licensing. This marks the first official move in a lengthy process that could lead to the addition of new franchises.
There is currently no timeline for how long the process will take, nor have any decisions been made regarding the expansion fee, when new teams might begin to play, or even if expansion will ultimately happen. “A lot of analysis still needs to be done and nothing has been predetermined,” Silver noted after the conclusion of the league’s board of governors meeting in Las Vegas.
Committee Involvement
The league will not be forming a new committee to handle the expansion study; instead, the existing advisory finance committee will take the lead, with support from the audit and strategy committee.
The decision to more closely examine expansion was somewhat anticipated, as the topic of adding new teams has been a recurring discussion for several years. Cities like Las Vegas and Seattle are viewed as top contenders should the NBA decide to push beyond its current 30-team structure, and both will continue to advocate for selection as potential sites for new franchises okbet888. Silver has previously indicated that he expects expansion to occur eventually.
“I think there is a significant step now in that we are now engaging in this in-depth analysis, something we weren’t prepared to do before,” Silver stated. “But beyond that, it’s really Day 1 of that in-depth analysis. In terms of price and potential timing, it’s too early to say. It is truly a complicated issue.”
Future Meetings and Financial Considerations
The next meeting of the board of governors is expected to occur in September. The topic of expansion has always been a complex one, particularly since it could mean current owners would have to sell equity in a league that is performing well financially. “For every team you add, you’re diluting the economics of the current league,” Silver explained.
The NBA has a longstanding relationship with Las Vegas, especially through its Summer League. A new set of media rights deals valued at $76 billion takes effect this coming season, and franchise values are skyrocketing. The most decorated franchises in the NBA, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, are currently in the process of being sold, with a combined valuation of at least $16.1 billion. The Celtics are selling for a record valuation of $6. okbet holdings inc1 billion, while the Lakers are being sold for about $10 billion to Mark Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“There’s no question that those purchase prices impact any economic analysis of teams,” Silver commented. “They don’t complicate it necessarily, but they certainly indicate value. One factor we need to examine is the potential value of expansion, how it would dilute existing equity, and what it could add to the league by adding an additional team.”
Potential Portland Trail Blazers Sale
Another team that may soon hit the market is the Portland Trail Blazers. Paul Allen’s estate announced in May that they have started the process of selling the team. “It’s the league’s preference that that team remains in Portland,” Silver said. “We’ve had great success in Portland over the years. I know there are groups that are actively engaged with the estate and have demonstrated interest in that team bingo plus withdrawal not received gcash.”
Silver mentioned one obstacle to the sale is the need for a new arena in Portland, which could pose a challenge for any new ownership group. Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, passed away in 2018, and since then, his sister Jody has taken charge of both the Trail Blazers and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks oke69.co.
The league has added seven franchises since 1988, but there hasn’t been an expansion since 2004. Although several teams have rebranded and relocated — most notably, the Seattle SuperSonics becoming the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008 — the league has maintained its 30 teams for the past two decades. Las Vegas has had a long-standing connection with the NBA, serving as a Summer League host and now hosting the title round of the NBA Cup. Seattle continues to be a city eager for a team since the departure of the Sonics.
“It’s an incredible market,” Silver said regarding Seattle. “I wish, standing here as the commissioner, I had lots of teams to dispense to many different markets interested in NBA basketball. However, we also have a responsibility to expand deliberately and sensibly for the league as a whole.”
What are your thoughts on the potential expansion of the NBA and the sale of the Trail Blazers?
