NBA Expansion: Which team will be relocated to the EC?

[Jamaaliver]

Adding Ja Morant and the Grizzlies to the Southeast Division could have some serious ramifications on competitive balance in the EC.

If the NBA expands into Seattle and Las Vegas, it will have ripple effects that effect both conferences



Associated Press reporter Willie G. Ramirez recently tweeted that the "NBA wants to finally announce expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle during the Clippers' two preseason games at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, on Sept. 30 and Oct. 3." Ramirez later deleted the tweet. However, if the NBA does add two expansion teams, it would dramatically reshape the league.

One Western Conference team would have to be moved to the Eastern Conference to balance out the conferences. With 16 teams in each conference, that means one Eastern Conference division would hold six teams.

Memphis Grizzlies

If one of the most likely Western Conference teams were moved to the Eastern Conference, they would likely end up in the Southeast Division. The Memphis Grizzlies are just a 1-hour flight from Atlanta and a 2-hour flight from Miami.

Adding the Grizzlies to the Southeast Division would be exciting for Hawks fans. They would get to see All-NBA point guard Ja Morant play in Atlanta more than once per season. A divisional rivalry between Morant and Trae Young would be great for the league.

However, one possible hangup could be television. There is a lot of overlap between the Hawks and Grizzlies television markets on Bally Sports networks. That could be one of many unforeseen challenges in moving the Grizzlies to the Eastern Conference.

SI.com

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

If Memphis gets moved East, how does that effect Hawks approach moving forward to have yet another young roster of top talent to claw past as Trae hits his prime years?

In three years, Pistons, Grizzlies and Magic could be loaded with young talent...Not to mention Celtics, Raptors and Pacers.

Similar issues of New Orleans makes the move East instead.

[DirtybirdGA]

I know divisions don't really matter, but Seattle could replace OKC in the NW division, and OKC could replace NO or Memphis in the SW division. I guess one of those come east.

[HMFFL]

Memphis or Minnesota relocating to the Eastern Conference concerns me.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Jamaaliver]

Ja vs Trae in their primes sharing a division could be epic...

Read on Twitter

[D21]

Ja vs Trae in their primes sharing a division could be epic...

Fun, but getting them in the division wouldn't be a great gift

Memphis or Minnesota relocating to the Eastern Conference concerns me.

NOP are another possibility. Now, Both NOP and MEM have western teams near them. MIN are the opposite, they are near eastern teams and far away from all western teams.
So it should be MIN going in the Central division.

Now, what can change some things: do they want to keep 3 divisions in each conference, and play with 5, 5 and 6 teams, or do they change it and create 4 divisions of 4 teams in each conference?...

[Jamaaliver]

Can't wait for a division built around Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Memphis.

Best, most competitive division in basketball right there.

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

New writers over at Soaring Down South have some...interesting perspectives.

Hawks should expose Onyeka Okongwu to expansion draft

While it is unlikely the Hawks would expose Okongwu if a draft happened today, he is one of the few Hawks who will be under contract when ESPN’s NBA insiders believe an expansion draft would take place.

He will notably be in the final year of his four-year, $61.9 million contract and just hitting his prime at 27 years old. The problem the Hawks could face is if his size proves to be a hindrance to him being a starting-level center.

Okongwu has improved his jumpshot to the point of being a viable option at 4. It would be a stretch to say that he could be a starter at power forward, which is also the same position that Johnson fits best. He has previously been listed at 6-foot-8...If the Hawks feel Okongwu’s 7-foot-2 wingspan will make up for the (potential) height deficiency, then it makes sense to re-up with Okongwu.

Read on Twitter

[jayu70]

New writers over at Soaring Down South have some...interesting perspectives.

Hawks should expose Onyeka Okongwu to expansion draft

While it is unlikely the Hawks would expose Okongwu if a draft happened today, he is one of the few Hawks who will be under contract when ESPN’s NBA insiders believe an expansion draft would take place.

He will notably be in the final year of his four-year, $61.9 million contract and just hitting his prime at 27 years old. The problem the Hawks could face is if his size proves to be a hindrance to him being a starting-level center.

Okongwu has improved his jumpshot to the point of being a viable option at 4. It would be a stretch to say that he could be a starter at power forward, which is also the same position that Johnson fits best. He has previously been listed at 6-foot-8...If the Hawks feel Okongwu’s 7-foot-2 wingspan will make up for the (potential) height deficiency, then it makes sense to re-up with Okongwu.

Read on Twitter

Kind of too soon to do this.
If the same rules are in play and we have to protect 8 players from our current roster it will be Trae, JJ, Zacc, DD, OO, Kobe, Vit, Gueye.
And this doesn't take into account the two incoming picks in 2025.

[Jamaaliver]

New writers over at Soaring Down South have some...interesting perspectives.

Hawks should expose Onyeka Okongwu to expansion draft

Kind of too soon to do this.
If the same rules are in play and we have to protect 8 players from our current roster it will be Trae, JJ, Zacc, DD, OO, Kobe, Vit, Gueye.
And this doesn't take into account the two incoming picks in 2025.

Based on recent history, i imagine half of those players won't be welcome on the Hawks by that time.

I predict one of either Kobe or Dyson will become the new Hawks fans whipping boy in the next 15 months...

See:

• Reddish, Cam
• Hunter, DeAndre
• Collins, John

[Jamaaliver]

Watch on YouTube

[jayu70]

New writers over at Soaring Down South have some...interesting perspectives.

Kind of too soon to do this.
If the same rules are in play and we have to protect 8 players from our current roster it will be Trae, JJ, Zacc, DD, OO, Kobe, Vit, Gueye.
And this doesn't take into account the two incoming picks in 2025.

Based on recent history, i imagine half of those players won't be welcome on the Hawks by that time.

I predict one of either Kobe or Dyson will become the new Hawks fans whipping boy in the next 15 months...

See:

• Reddish, Cam
• Hunter, DeAndre
• Collins, John

Cam asked for a trade after missing much of the previous season.
Hunter can't stay healthy.
I wanted Collins over CC.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

I predict that each conference will go back to two divisions once expansion happens.

Memphis moves East and joins the Hawks in the new Central Division

Read on Twitter

[King Ken]

I think it's Minnesota that moves to the east.

[Geaux_Hawks]

If they're expanding to 32, then my gut says it's New Orleans to the South East because Seattle and Vegas would be in the Northwest with Portland/Utah, and you could slide Minnesota in with Memphis, Denver, and OKC.

To be honest, there's no real way to get travel times completely fair for every team out west due to teams being in Phoenix and Utah. New Orleans to the SE at least cuts Minnesota out from traveling all the way to Portland/Seattle. I'd assume in a division with Houston, Dallas, and SA, Phoenix would have the furthest travel time of 2.5 hours.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter