Asked in recent years about the possibility of expanding the NBA beyond 30 teams, commissioner Adam Silver has suggested such a move isn’t being actively discussed, and isn’t necessarily on the horizon. However, in a conversation with Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum for The Players’ Tribune (video link), Silver acknowledged that the league isn’t overlooking the possibility of expansion.
“I think it’s just a question of when the right time is to seriously start thinking about expansion,” Silver said. “I don’t want to put a precise timeline on it, but it’s inevitable at some point we’ll start looking at growth of franchises. That’s always been the case in this league.”
While Silver stops short of saying expansion itself is inevitable, his comments hint that he believes it will happen at some point. McCollum, who plays his games in the Pacific Northwest, asked Silver specifically about the possibility of Seattle getting a franchise again, and the commissioner confirmed that the former home of the SuperSonics will “no doubt be on a short list of cities we’ll look at.”
The NBA has featured 30 clubs since the Charlotte Bobcats entered the league in 2004, and Seattle has been without a team since the Sonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. Within the last decade, investors – including Chris Hansen – have made an effort to bring a franchise back to Seattle with a new arena or with renovations to KeyArena, but the league has not introduced any new teams via expansion or relocation during that time.
I want Las Vegas and Pittsburgh to have a team, maybe even Louisville or St Louis. Don’t understand why everyone wants a team in Seattle again..something different.
Those places should all get teams eventually. Even Seattle. Louisville is at the bottom of my priority list there. LV, Pittsburgh, and Seattle are all good places though. I’m thinking Pittsburgh and Seattle by 2021 and LV by 2025.
I’m from Western Pennsylvania and love Pittsburgh, in particular their sports. But I just don’t see Pittsburgh as an NBA city. It would be one of the 2 or 3 smallest markets in the league and they would have no chance of landing marque free agents
Franchises to Seattle and Las Vegas and move Memphis or New Orleans to the East
We don’t even have enough good players for 30 teams now. How trash would the league be with 32 or 34?
Couldn’t agree more! The gap between the top teams and the rest is insane.. all this is if NBA does it would be a money grab to have another set of owners.
Basketball is a growing sport and it’s expansion means more opportunity for players. More opportunity will lead to more good players. There’s no reason not to expand
You’re crazy, basketball is the fastest growing sport in the world right so, why wouldn’t they take advantage of that? More teams meaning more international players meaning more audience.
The Baltimore Riots
Hey not nice
I think its a bad idea unless they change the one and done. They should adopt the NHL system and allow players to be drafted but stay in school until the team thinks he is ready to turn pro. These guys are coming in not ready physically or mentally to play. By the time they are, they are playing for another team. Not enough ready to play talent now so expansion makes it worse!
I don’t see Pittsburgh being a viable option for an NBA team. We have the Pens and Steelers that get us through those winter months and basketball isn’t the type of lunch pale mentality game. I’d love to see a team here I just don’t think it’s realistic.
I think it’s more possible than not. Our only real option of b-ball is Pitt, and they’re mediocre at best. People love basketball here, and I really hope we get s franchise
Completely agree TJ
who do you guys currently route for? Sixers for being in PA or is it Cleveland? (can’t imagine that, hated City because of the Browns).
I would love it if they would consider Bismarck, North Dakota or even overseas to Jerusalem
Why would you love that?
Live part time in both and can ensure we are rabid sports fans
let’s go Sonics
They should move the warriors to the east so the west isn’t so good and the east could be good again
Give me a Baltimore team
Seattle and Pittsburgh should get teams
Seattle absolutely deserves a team, and after that I’d suggest Vegas, Louisville (I saw someone in an article suggest bringing the Kentucky Colonels back and that would be awesome), and maybe a DMV city like Richmond or Baltimore as other options after that.
Let’s get nostalgic and have the Virginia Squires, Spirits of St; Louis, and San Diego Conquistadors
Nashville would be happy to take any relocated franchise. If we can support hockey in the south, we can surely support the NBA.
I really see Seattle coming back with a franchise and if the NHL and NFL are going to LV why not the NBA. Simply follow the money