NBA Expansion

[Sealab2024]

Mexico City is certainly on the desired list Silver keeps in his wallet, but the logistics are tougher than one would think. The city is way higher in elevation than Denver, there isn't another franchise city close to it and I'm not sure these guys are gonna wanna live down there like that.

[SkyBill40]

Mexico City is certainly on the desired list Silver keeps in his wallet, but the logistics are tougher than one would think. The city is way higher in elevation than Denver, there isn't another franchise city close to it and I'm not sure these guys are gonna wanna live down there like that.

I don't ever really see Mexico City ever happening. There are far too many things which make it prohibitive, some of which you've named, to make it doable. It's in the same boat as other non-North America cities: The logistics are just too steep.

[nomansland]

Mexico City is certainly on the desired list Silver keeps in his wallet, but the logistics are tougher than one would think. The city is way higher in elevation than Denver, there isn't another franchise city close to it and I'm not sure these guys are gonna wanna live down there like that.

The taxes, the traffic, the extra security, the chaos, the language, the food, the distance...and it's not just players who are gonna have a harder time, it's the coaches and FO as well.

And when you look at the economics of it, people say "but Mexico City is HUGE! 22 million people!" when in reality less than 10% of the populace could afford an NBA ticket and they're not going to pay $8 for a beer or $25 for parking.

I love Mexico City, lived there off and on for 3 years, but it's not ready for the NBA. It's a pipe dream for a lot of fans who've never been there.

[One_and_Done]

I'd definitely expand to Mexico City too, but then I am down for 4-5 expansion teams. I'm not sure the owners are down for even 1.

[JustBuzzin]

Mexico City is certainly on the desired list Silver keeps in his wallet, but the logistics are tougher than one would think. The city is way higher in elevation than Denver, there isn't another franchise city close to it and I'm not sure these guys are gonna wanna live down there like that.

Yeah not sure why people are talking about Mexico City. Nice vacation spot, but these players aren't trying to raise their family there. You have to think about schools and culture change when these NBA expansion cities are discussed.

Last thing you want is a another Steve Francis situation were he refuses to play in Mexico City.

[ChiTownHero1992]

If its two teams, which it likely is then Seattle and Vegas make the most sense, already arenas, fan base, etc. Then move Minny to the East-Central for similar rivals to NHL, NFL, MLB, etc

If its four teams, which is possible and plausible in my opinion, Seattle, Vegas are a must then honestly a KC/St. Louis team would be best and I'd recommend a second Canadian team (Vancover, Montreal, etc, lets say Vancouver to spread things out in Canada), then you have VAN, VEG, and SEA going out west, STL in the East, move MEM and MIN to the East. I always see a lot of people pointing out NOP as moving but honestly I feel like they're closer to teams like (SAS, HOU, DAL, OKC) then MEM is and MEM fits well in the (WAS, CHA, ATL areas)


Honestly if you think about it this way, move rosters back to 16 spots (13 full time and 3 2-way contracts). This subtacts only 2 spots per team (60 players) but we add in the 4 new teams of 16 (64 total players). We're basically only adding 4 new players. All the naysayers claiming a watered down league, don't have to worry about anything with only 4 new players. If it works out and teams are good for awhile, in 5-6 years expand rosters again back to 18 as needed.

[SkyBill40]

If its two teams, which it likely is then Seattle and Vegas make the most sense, already arenas, fan base, etc. Then move Minny to the East-Central for similar rivals to NHL, NFL, MLB, etc

If its four teams, which is possible and plausible in my opinion, Seattle, Vegas are a must then honestly a KC/St. Louis team would be best and I'd recommend a second Canadian team (Vancover, Montreal, etc, lets say Vancouver to spread things out in Canada), then you have VAN, VEG, and SEA going out west, STL in the East, move MEM and MIN to the East. I always see a lot of people pointing out NOP as moving but honestly I feel like they're closer to teams like (SAS, HOU, DAL, OKC) then MEM is and MEM fits well in the (WAS, CHA, areas)


Honestly if you think about it this way, move rosters back to 16 spots (13 full time and 3 2-way contracts). This subtacts only 2 spots per team (60 players) but we add in the 4 new teams of 16 (64 total players). We're basically only adding 4 new players. All the naysayers claiming a watered down league, don't have to worry about anything with only 4 new players. If it works out and teams are good for awhile, in 5-6 years expand rosters again back to 18 as needed.

I don't see Vancouver as being on the short list. The NBA has already been there, the team wasn't really too supported, and then relocated. That's not to say the league can't return to the city, but I don't see it happening.

I suspect it'll be two teams with a relocation of another team from the Western conference to the East. If it were four teams, well, that sure would be interesting but don't feel like the league would be willing to do that many in one drop.

[Sealab2024]

Not sure how feasible they'd be but if the NBA wants to expand beyond the lower 48 I'd look at the Caribbean before MC and Montreal before Vancouver. Honestly if things had gone differently in the last century Havana would have been the perfect spot, but there's still Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. They might not have the largest population but I've no doubt they'd be supported as well as they could be. And since Vancouver didn't work out, Montreal might actually be a better option and if done right could engage the citizenry.

To be clear I haven't studied any of these places just thinking out loud. I'm sure there are plenty of reasons they wouldn't work, but these are the out of the box ideas I'd at least be looking at if I'm Silver.

[azcatz11]

Not sure how feasible they'd be but if the NBA wants to expand beyond the lower 48 I'd look at the Caribbean before MC and Montreal before Vancouver. Honestly if things had gone differently in the last century Havana would have been the perfect spot, but there's still Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. They might not have the largest population but I've no doubt they'd be supported as well as they could be. And since Vancouver didn't work out, Montreal might actually be a better option and if done right could engage the citizenry.

To be clear I haven't studied any of these places just thinking out loud. I'm sure there are plenty of reasons they wouldn't work, but these are the out of the box ideas I'd at least be looking at if I'm Silver.

US Virgin Islands would be a good option. Duncan is from st croix and they are basketball crazy there. Would love to see them get a team

[wegotthabeet]

I am wondering if it is possible that NBA expands in to Europe...

Should be the direction the league should go. By 2080, more than half the league will be international players anyway so start this now.

honestly this makes more sense financially. logistically probably not, but let's try.

1. move the entire Central division West.

2. move the Pelicans to Seattle

3. expand to 40 teams (10 in Europe).

4. 4 divisions total: East, Central, West, Europe

EUROPE
10 teams

EAST
New York
Brooklyn
Boston
Philadelphia
Toronto
Washington
Atlanta
Charlotte
Orlando
Miami

CENTRAL
Chicago
Detroit
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Indiana
Minnesota
Houston
San Antonio
Dallas
Memphis

WEST
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Golden State
Sacramento
Phoenix
Utah
Denver
Portland
Seattle
OKC

5. regular season = 75 games (9 x 5 division + 1 x 30 other teams)

6. playoffs stay within division until the semi finals

7. Finals in Vegas every year ( or other neutral site).

[wegotthabeet]

If its two teams, which it likely is then Seattle and Vegas make the most sense, already arenas, fan base, etc. Then move Minny to the East-Central for similar rivals to NHL, NFL, MLB, etc

If its four teams, which is possible and plausible in my opinion, Seattle, Vegas are a must then honestly a KC/St. Louis team would be best and I'd recommend a second Canadian team (Vancover, Montreal, etc, lets say Vancouver to spread things out in Canada), then you have VAN, VEG, and SEA going out west, STL in the East, move MEM and MIN to the East. I always see a lot of people pointing out NOP as moving but honestly I feel like they're closer to teams like (SAS, HOU, DAL, OKC) then MEM is and MEM fits well in the (WAS, CHA, areas)


Honestly if you think about it this way, move rosters back to 16 spots (13 full time and 3 2-way contracts). This subtacts only 2 spots per team (60 players) but we add in the 4 new teams of 16 (64 total players). We're basically only adding 4 new players. All the naysayers claiming a watered down league, don't have to worry about anything with only 4 new players. If it works out and teams are good for awhile, in 5-6 years expand rosters again back to 18 as needed.

I don't see Vancouver as being on the short list. The NBA has already been there, the team wasn't really too supported, and then relocated. That's not to say the league can't return to the city, but I don't see it happening.

I suspect it'll be two teams with a relocation of another team from the Western conference to the East. If it were four teams, well, that sure would be interesting but don't feel like the league would be willing to do that many in one drop.

this is disingenuous. bad form from a Seattle fan. you have no idea what your talking about.

[Sealab2024]

I am wondering if it is possible that NBA expands in to Europe...

Should be the direction the league should go. By 2080, more than half the league will be international players anyway so start this now.

honestly this makes more sense financially. logistically probably not, but let's try.

1. move the entire Central division West.

2. move the Pelicans to Seattle

3. expand to 40 teams (10 in Europe).

4. 4 divisions total: East, Central, West, Europe

EUROPE
10 teams

EAST
New York
Brooklyn
Boston
Philadelphia
Toronto
Washington
Atlanta
Charlotte
Orlando
Miami

CENTRAL
Chicago
Detroit
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Indiana
Minnesota
Houston
San Antonio
Dallas
Memphis

WEST
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Golden State
Sacramento
Phoenix
Utah
Denver
Portland
Seattle
OKC

5. regular season = 75 games (9 x 5 division + 1 x 30 other teams)

6. playoffs stay within division until the semi finals

7. Finals in Vegas every year ( or other neutral site).

This would make a ton of sense but would take an almost herculean effort to get 10 European cities going at the same time. But if you could you'd have enough of a base that teams could take a once a year road trip through Europe (probably twice in the east) to play those home games there and the European teams could do the regional run through the divisions as well. You wouldn't want teams constantly going back and forth over the Atlantic for like 3 game road trips for a ton of reasons which is why a single or even two European teams doesn't make financial sense, but a full division would change the numbers enough to work.

Your math is off however. 4 divisions with 10 teams equals 39 games. You play your division opponents 3 times that's an extra 18 games bringing you to 57. Add a second against the other division in conference that's 67. switch off a home and away against an alternating division in other conference you're at 77.

Biggest question to me would be how do you add ten teams, stock them with players and not completely destroy the talent pool for a good decade.

[JustBuzzin]

Not sure how feasible they'd be but if the NBA wants to expand beyond the lower 48 I'd look at the Caribbean before MC and Montreal before Vancouver. Honestly if things had gone differently in the last century Havana would have been the perfect spot, but there's still Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. They might not have the largest population but I've no doubt they'd be supported as well as they could be. And since Vancouver didn't work out, Montreal might actually be a better option and if done right could engage the citizenry.

To be clear I haven't studied any of these places just thinking out loud. I'm sure there are plenty of reasons they wouldn't work, but these are the out of the box ideas I'd at least be looking at if I'm Silver.

US Virgin Islands would be a good option. Duncan is from st croix and they are basketball crazy there. Would love to see them get a team

A NBA franchise on a island...

Not enough population to support a NBA franchise. Where do they even get the money for a arena?

[azcatz11]

Not sure how feasible they'd be but if the NBA wants to expand beyond the lower 48 I'd look at the Caribbean before MC and Montreal before Vancouver. Honestly if things had gone differently in the last century Havana would have been the perfect spot, but there's still Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. They might not have the largest population but I've no doubt they'd be supported as well as they could be. And since Vancouver didn't work out, Montreal might actually be a better option and if done right could engage the citizenry.

To be clear I haven't studied any of these places just thinking out loud. I'm sure there are plenty of reasons they wouldn't work, but these are the out of the box ideas I'd at least be looking at if I'm Silver.

US Virgin Islands would be a good option. Duncan is from st croix and they are basketball crazy there. Would love to see them get a team

A NBA franchise on a island...

Not enough population to support a NBA franchise. Where do they even get the money for a arena?

We are looking for something out of the box. No offense to anyone in a place like Kansas City but what’s more exciting - nba in the Caribbean or in the mid west? The Caribbean also has huge tourism / cruise ships to feed off of

[JustBuzzin]

US Virgin Islands would be a good option. Duncan is from st croix and they are basketball crazy there. Would love to see them get a team

A NBA franchise on a island...

Not enough population to support a NBA franchise. Where do they even get the money for a arena?

We are looking for something out of the box. No offense to anyone in a place like Kansas City but what’s more exciting - nba in the Caribbean or in the mid west? The Caribbean also has huge tourism / cruise ships to feed off of

I mean it sounds good location wise. Just not sure the money is there. Like I said it's a small population of people and most of those people care nothing about basketball.

If you want warm weather location just go with Virginia Beach. Players love beach locations.

Virginia Beach is no South Beach, but it's another beach location the players could enjoy on the East Coast.

[SkyBill40]

If its two teams, which it likely is then Seattle and Vegas make the most sense, already arenas, fan base, etc. Then move Minny to the East-Central for similar rivals to NHL, NFL, MLB, etc

If its four teams, which is possible and plausible in my opinion, Seattle, Vegas are a must then honestly a KC/St. Louis team would be best and I'd recommend a second Canadian team (Vancover, Montreal, etc, lets say Vancouver to spread things out in Canada), then you have VAN, VEG, and SEA going out west, STL in the East, move MEM and MIN to the East. I always see a lot of people pointing out NOP as moving but honestly I feel like they're closer to teams like (SAS, HOU, DAL, OKC) then MEM is and MEM fits well in the (WAS, CHA, areas)


Honestly if you think about it this way, move rosters back to 16 spots (13 full time and 3 2-way contracts). This subtacts only 2 spots per team (60 players) but we add in the 4 new teams of 16 (64 total players). We're basically only adding 4 new players. All the naysayers claiming a watered down league, don't have to worry about anything with only 4 new players. If it works out and teams are good for awhile, in 5-6 years expand rosters again back to 18 as needed.

I don't see Vancouver as being on the short list. The NBA has already been there, the team wasn't really too supported, and then relocated. That's not to say the league can't return to the city, but I don't see it happening.

I suspect it'll be two teams with a relocation of another team from the Western conference to the East. If it were four teams, well, that sure would be interesting but don't feel like the league would be willing to do that many in one drop.

this is disingenuous. bad form from a Seattle fan. you have no idea what your talking about.

LMAO. Uh, sure.

Don't even try that crap with me. There's a difference between what happened with the Grizzlies and the Sonics. The only similarity is that both teams were relocated.

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

[azcatz11]

A NBA franchise on a island...

Not enough population to support a NBA franchise. Where do they even get the money for a arena?

We are looking for something out of the box. No offense to anyone in a place like Kansas City but what’s more exciting - nba in the Caribbean or in the mid west? The Caribbean also has huge tourism / cruise ships to feed off of

I mean it sounds good location wise. Just not sure the money is there. Like I said it's a small population of people and most of those people care nothing about basketball.

If you want warm weather location just go with Virginia Beach. Players love beach locations.

Virginia Beach is no South Beach, but it's another beach location the players could enjoy on the East Coast.

We don’t need a team in Virginia Beach. That poses no threat to the Caribbean at all. Virginia is a generic location.

[JustBuzzin]

We are looking for something out of the box. No offense to anyone in a place like Kansas City but what’s more exciting - nba in the Caribbean or in the mid west? The Caribbean also has huge tourism / cruise ships to feed off of

I mean it sounds good location wise. Just not sure the money is there. Like I said it's a small population of people and most of those people care nothing about basketball.

If you want warm weather location just go with Virginia Beach. Players love beach locations.

Virginia Beach is no South Beach, but it's another beach location the players could enjoy on the East Coast.

We don’t need a team in Virginia Beach. That poses no threat to the Caribbean at all. Virginia is a generic location.

lol

[azcatz11]

I mean it sounds good location wise. Just not sure the money is there. Like I said it's a small population of people and most of those people care nothing about basketball.

If you want warm weather location just go with Virginia Beach. Players love beach locations.

Virginia Beach is no South Beach, but it's another beach location the players could enjoy on the East Coast.

We don’t need a team in Virginia Beach. That poses no threat to the Caribbean at all. Virginia is a generic location.

lol

I would be in favor of moving the suns to the Caribbean for the record

[wegotthabeet]

Should be the direction the league should go. By 2080, more than half the league will be international players anyway so start this now.

honestly this makes more sense financially. logistically probably not, but let's try.

1. move the entire Central division West.

2. move the Pelicans to Seattle

3. expand to 40 teams (10 in Europe).

4. 4 divisions total: East, Central, West, Europe

EUROPE
10 teams

EAST
New York
Brooklyn
Boston
Philadelphia
Toronto
Washington
Atlanta
Charlotte
Orlando
Miami

CENTRAL
Chicago
Detroit
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Indiana
Minnesota
Houston
San Antonio
Dallas
Memphis

WEST
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Golden State
Sacramento
Phoenix
Utah
Denver
Portland
Seattle
OKC

5. regular season = 75 games (9 x 5 division + 1 x 30 other teams)

6. playoffs stay within division until the semi finals

7. Finals in Vegas every year ( or other neutral site).

This would make a ton of sense but would take an almost herculean effort to get 10 European cities going at the same time. But if you could you'd have enough of a base that teams could take a once a year road trip through Europe (probably twice in the east) to play those home games there and the European teams could do the regional run through the divisions as well. You wouldn't want teams constantly going back and forth over the Atlantic for like 3 game road trips for a ton of reasons which is why a single or even two European teams doesn't make financial sense, but a full division would change the numbers enough to work.

Your math is off however. 4 divisions with 10 teams equals 39 games. You play your division opponents 3 times that's an extra 18 games bringing you to 57. Add a second against the other division in conference that's 67. switch off a home and away against an alternating division in other conference you're at 77.

Biggest question to me would be how do you add ten teams, stock them with players and not completely destroy the talent pool for a good decade.

Not sure that my math is off. I'd just have the regular season more geared towards division games to reduce travel as much as possible. 75 games total per team.

Teams would play division opponents five times. 45 games total or 60% of the schedule. 30 games vs every other team, so they would play every other team only once, rotating between home and away every year. 75 games is plenty. most players don't even play 70. So 1500 regular season games, up from 1230, but now with access to the European, African & Middle East TV markets in their respective prime times. More total games, far wider reach.

most of the teams would come from the Euroleague. Real, Barcelona etc... maybe only London & Paris being true expansion teams.