Expansion vote on Las Vegas and Seattle draws closer as NBPA signals support
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The NBA’s Board of Governors is scheduled to vote later this month on whether to begin formal discussions about adding franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. Although approval would not guarantee immediate growth to 32 teams, league officials have viewed expansion in both markets as the likely outcome since Commissioner Adam Silver said in December that a decision was expected in 2026, according to ESPN.
Players union favors two new clubs
The National Basketball Players Association has no ballot in the expansion process, yet sources told ESPN the union strongly backs the idea. Two new teams would open 36 additional roster spots—30 standard contracts and six two-way deals—expanding job opportunities for players.
Potential impact on the NBA Cup
Should expansion proceed, the in-season NBA Cup could shift to a cleaner format. With 32 franchises, the league could create eight groups of four for preliminary play. Group winners could advance directly to the knockout round, or the field could widen to 16 teams, mirroring the single-elimination stage of the FIFA World Cup.
SuperSonics branding set to return
Under the 2008 relocation agreement that sent the original SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, Seattle retained rights to the “SuperSonics” name and related trademarks at no cost once a new franchise is approved to play in a renovated KeyArena. Sources said the Thunder would also permit a new Seattle club to reclaim the SuperSonics’ historical records, which currently reside with Oklahoma City.
Expansion draft and salary-cap details
The current collective bargaining agreement outlines specific financial rules for newcomers. An expansion club would operate with a salary cap set at 66.6 percent of the league cap in its first season, rising to 80 percent in year two and reaching parity in year three. Roster construction would begin with an expansion draft governed by longstanding protection rules for existing teams.
Financial stakes for current owners
Adding two franchises would spread league revenues among 32 clubs instead of 30, a historical sticking point for some owners. However, ESPN reports that expansion fees could exceed $7 billion per team, producing sizable one-time payouts for each current ownership group. Separately, The Athletic notes that a planned NBA Europe circuit could create fresh income streams to offset any dilution of domestic revenue sharing, with investment groups tied to Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United expected to bid on European teams.
Source: Hoops Rumors
