NBA governors to vote on exploring Seattle and Las Vegas expansion for 2028-29
nba-governors-seattle-las-vegas-expansion-vote-2028-29
The NBA is moving closer to adding two new franchises, with the league’s board of governors scheduled to vote next week on whether to formally explore expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas beginning with the 2028-29 season, according to ESPN.
Why the timing now?
Commissioner Adam Silver first floated renewed interest in expansion in December 2020. Since then, soaring franchise valuations have shifted the financial math for the league’s 30 owners. Moving from a 30-team to a 32-team league would reduce each owner’s stake from 3.33% to 3.13%, but projected expansion fees between $7 billion and $10 billion could offset that loss. If the two new clubs sold for a combined $15 billion, every current owner would pocket roughly $500 million.
How certain is expansion?
Multiple league sources view expansion as all but inevitable. While next week’s vote is non-binding, a more definitive decision could come during the July 2026 board meeting held at Summer League in Las Vegas. Approval requires support from 23 of the 30 existing owners.
Players’ association stance
The National Basketball Players Association has no vote on expansion, yet sources say the union favors the idea because it would add 30 standard roster spots and six two-way contracts.
Seattle: restoring the SuperSonics
Seattle has lacked an NBA team since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. The city now has a renovated venue—Climate Pledge Arena, opened in 2021—removing the arena obstacle that helped trigger the original move. Under terms of a 2008 settlement, a new Seattle franchise would inherit the SuperSonics name, logos and historical records.
Las Vegas: the NBA’s unofficial 31st city
Las Vegas already hosts Summer League and, for three years, the NBA Cup’s final rounds. The city has recently welcomed the NFL’s Raiders, WNBA’s Aces, NHL’s Golden Knights and will soon add MLB’s Athletics, underscoring its rapid rise as a major sports market.
Impact on conferences
Placing both newcomers in the Western Conference would require shifting one current West club to the East to create a 16-team balance. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans are considered the leading relocation candidates, with geography making Minnesota the likeliest option.
Postseason and NBA Cup formats
The playoff structure—six automatic berths and four play-in spots per conference—would remain intact. A 32-team field could streamline the NBA Cup by allowing eight groups of four, mirroring FIFA’s World Cup schedule.
Key issues still to be settled
The league and the NBPA must finalize rules for an expansion draft, salary-cap allowances and draft positioning:
- Expansion draft: In 2004, teams protected up to eight players and could lose only one. Similar safeguards are expected.
- Salary cap: Past precedent gives new teams 66.6% of the league cap in Year 1, 80% in Year 2 and full access in Year 3. Based on a projected $183 million cap for 2028-29, that would set an initial limit near $121.9 million, with a requirement to spend at least 90% of that amount.
- Entry draft slotting: Previous expansion clubs were barred from the No. 1 overall pick in their first season and, in some cases, their second.
Further details are expected to be debated in the months leading up to a potential binding vote this summer.
Source: ESPN
