Las Vegas and Seattle Expansion Teams Are Increasingly Expected to Officially Join NBA in 2028

The National Basketball Association has been talking expansion for some time now. And it looks like things are picking up steam for the two selected locations. Well, somewhat. Momentum is building for the NBA’s official expansion to 32 teams with Las Vegas and Seattle joining. The Las Vegas and Seattle expansion teams are increasingly expected to officially join the NBA as soon as 2028.

Of course, by expanding there would have to be some adjustments with teams. Especially, in order to make all the divisions work and stay balanced. According to reporter Evan Sidery,

“All signs point towards the Timberwolves as the team who will be chosen to move to the Eastern Conference upon NBA expansion in 2028-29.

Not only is Minnesota viewed as the most logical choice geographically, but there’s appeal to star-balancing conferences with Anthony Edwards.”

Furthermore, getting into the financial side of things. The initial contribution to the league will be huge. Expansion to 32 is set to be a very lucrative venture when Las Vegas and Seattle officially join the West in 2028-29. The Las Vegas bid could surpass $10 billion. While Seattle’s bid is projected to be around $7 billion. With NBA expansion expected to net over $17 billion from Las Vegas and Seattle bids, the other 30 teams would pocket over $565 million in additional revenue.

Furthermore, if things stay on this particular fast track trajectory, an expansion draft would occur in summer 2028. Commissioner Adam Silver says NBA expansion talks are ongoing. However, there was more discussion about Las Vegas over Seattle due to questions about where a new arena would potentially be.

Las Vegas and Seattle Expansion Teams Are Increasingly Expected to Officially Join NBA in 2028

Over on the Seattle side of things, there doesn’t seem to be the same arena issues. In Seattle, NBA has had operational groups at Climate Pledge. KOMO News covering Seattle and western Washington; their correspondent, Chris Daniels reports,

“NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says league operational teams have toured Climate Pledge Arena, and it could be ready in five weeks for a team, if needed. His brief comments came after a two-day meeting in New York City, where league owners were briefed on the status of the expansion process.

ADAM SILVER: “[Climate Pledge] may require some modifications for NBA basketball, but if we were opening, you know, in five weeks, we could be ready in Seattle. So, because we can only take on so much at once, the more of the discussion was around Las Vegas.

I think that there is real excitement around either, you know, a renovated T-Mobile Arena. I think everyone acknowledges if a team were to stay there, it still needs some significant improvements.

But at the same time, there are groups who have presented plans to build what I would call, you know, a modern entertainment palace in Las Vegas. And it’s a unique market where you could truly see, you know, essentially 365-day-a-year activity. In Las Vegas, it’s not even clear what the site will be, let alone the arena yet.”

So then, there’s quite a bit of planning still ahead. Adam Silver says NBA expansion talks are ongoing. However, there is a definite focus and direction. Silver says, “It’s our goal to have decisions by the end of the year, and that continues to be our goal.”

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