Latest NBA Rumors Update Buzz on Potential Expansion Bids for Seattle, Las Vegas Teams

The NBA has moved one step closer to league expansion with a pair of new teams.

The league's Board of Governors approved a vote to explore bids and applicants for expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the bidding process is reportedly expected to generate offers in the $7-10 billion range for each team.

Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the subject on Wednesday:

As Charania reported, sources said last week that the league is targeting the 2028-29 season for the two expansion franchises to start playing. It was also noted that there will be "a potential final vote later this year to finalize the transactions to 32 teams," with 23 out of 30 governors needed to vote in favor to make the new teams official members of the NBA.

The last time the NBA expanded was in 2004 with the Charlotte franchise originally known as the Bobcats. Now, the league has its eyes set on bigger markets.

By heading to Sin City, the NBA is following the lead of other major sports leagues that have taken over the area. The NHL expanded to Las Vegas in 2017 with the Golden Knights. The WNBA moved its San Antonio franchise to become the Las Vegas Aces in 2018. In 2020, the NFL moved the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas. In MLB, the Athletics are in the process of moving to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

Seattle has long been known as a basketball town, but the city has been without an NBA franchise since the SuperSonics relocated in 2008 to become the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NHL had also expanded to Seattle in 2021 with the Kraken, and they share a home venue with the WNBA's Storm at Climate Pledge Arena, providing a viable spot for an NBA franchise.

Charania added, "Executives across the NBA expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to move to the East to realign conferences with 16 each when Seattle and Las Vegas become West teams."

All signs point to NBA expansion coming sooner rather than later, so big changes are ahead for the league.