Rumor: NBA Expected to Announce Expansion Teams in Seattle and Las Vegas

[DoItALL9]

I say give Seattle KD and Westbrook.

No love for Presti?

Serge Ibaka?

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[DoItALL9]

A team President tells Portland guy that if Blazers are sold and moved, it won't be to Seattle because it is "earmarked" for expansion.

So... if expansion (earmark) falls through, is said President suggesting the Blazers may end up in Seattle in the long run?

Not if the move were to happen while expansion were still close to happening...

Maybe Vancouver??

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[Cactus Jack]

A team President tells Portland guy that if Blazers are sold and moved, it won't be to Seattle because it is "earmarked" for expansion.

So... if expansion (earmark) falls through, is said President suggesting the Blazers may end up in Seattle in the long run?

Not if the move were to happen while expansion were still close to happening...

Maybe Vancouver??

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Phil Knight made an offer to buy the Blazers. The team is staying in Portland for the longterm.

[DoItALL9]

A team President tells Portland guy that if Blazers are sold and moved, it won't be to Seattle because it is "earmarked" for expansion.

So... if expansion (earmark) falls through, is said President suggesting the Blazers may end up in Seattle in the long run?

Not if the move were to happen while expansion were still close to happening...

Maybe Vancouver??

Sent from my LG-H872 using RealGM mobile app

Phil Knight made an offer to buy the Blazers. The team is staying in Portland for the longterm.

The offer was rejected

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[Cactus Jack]

The offer was rejected

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I'm well aware. Technically the team isn't available at the moment. But the team will be sold at some point.

Someone like a Phil Knight (local owner) offering to buy would prevent such a move. The league wouldn't approve it.

The Moda Center is not considered obsolete. So again, the Blazers are staying put.

[Norm2953]

Apparently with the new TV deal and expansion fees on the horizon, the Allen Trust wants well north
of $2 Billion for the Blazers.

Unlikely the league would approve of any new owner moving the Blazers from Portland. It will be
interesting to see if the usual names like Larry Ellison get involved but with the Broncos being sold
for $4.65 Billion, it will be interesting what the Blazers would fetch from an auction.

[Swish1906]

So Lebron wants to own the Vegas team. I really hope the league (and other owners) are not stupid enough to allow this because of his connections to Klutch.

Everyone knows what would happen with unhappy Klutch clients in small markets...

[LakerLegend]

Don’t need more teams

We aren't getting more teams. Cuban already spelled out what expansion actually is--nothing but a short-term loan to the existing franchises with a huge back end loss. New Markets can't generate 1/16th of the existing NBA revenue required just to break even. Not even close. So the existing governors aren't going to vote for this.

If Seattle and Vegas get teams it will be existing teams moving there. Adding franchises is a money losing proposition for the existing teams and they know it even if fans don't understand the franchise fees are quickly given back by the additional revenue split.

Cuban is just one owner of 30.

[Texas Chuck]

Don’t need more teams

We aren't getting more teams. Cuban already spelled out what expansion actually is--nothing but a short-term loan to the existing franchises with a huge back end loss. New Markets can't generate 1/16th of the existing NBA revenue required just to break even. Not even close. So the existing governors aren't going to vote for this.

If Seattle and Vegas get teams it will be existing teams moving there. Adding franchises is a money losing proposition for the existing teams and they know it even if fans don't understand the franchise fees are quickly given back by the additional revenue split.

Cuban is just one owner of 30.

You don't say.....

This isn't about Cuban. This is about the reality he pointed out--financially its a loss to the existing owners to admit a new team unless that new team can generate significant new revenue. But they can't, especially since most local revenue remains local so even if they somehow did great in their own markets, not enough of that trickles back. And the national TV money isn't going to increase much if at all, when you add a couple of mid markets to it.

Now maybe the league will do it, but only if their governors are willing to take a loss. Something rich guys are generally loathe to do.

And I wish I made this point without citing Cuban, even though I think is important to provide credit for other's work. Because so many posters have since tried to make this about Cuban instead of what its really about--the money. And the money doesn't make sense to add teams.

[LakerLegend]

We aren't getting more teams. Cuban already spelled out what expansion actually is--nothing but a short-term loan to the existing franchises with a huge back end loss. New Markets can't generate 1/16th of the existing NBA revenue required just to break even. Not even close. So the existing governors aren't going to vote for this.

If Seattle and Vegas get teams it will be existing teams moving there. Adding franchises is a money losing proposition for the existing teams and they know it even if fans don't understand the franchise fees are quickly given back by the additional revenue split.

Cuban is just one owner of 30.

You don't say.....

This isn't about Cuban. This is about the reality he pointed out--financially its a loss to the existing owners to admit a new team unless that new team can generate significant new revenue. But they can't, especially since most local revenue remains local so even if they somehow did great in their own markets, not enough of that trickles back. And the national TV money isn't going to increase much if at all, when you add a couple of mid markets to it.

Now maybe the league will do it, but only if their governors are willing to take a loss. Something rich guys are generally loathe to do.

And I wish I made this point without citing Cuban, even though I think is important to provide credit for other's work. Because so many posters have since tried to make this about Cuban instead of what its really about--the money. And the money doesn't make sense to add teams.

The whole logic behind the thought of expansion has been for owners to recoup money lost during the pandemic. Seattle is a rich market. The metro is 15th in the us by population and 11th in gdp. I’m sure it will have a substantive impact on the tv contracts. Not to mention you are adding what roughly 160 games to the nba slate every year, merchandise etc. Silver himself has said expansion is a question of when, not if.

[wegotthabeet]

So Lebron wants to own the Vegas team. I really hope the league (and other owners) are not stupid enough to allow this because of his connections to Klutch.

Everyone knows what would happen with unhappy Klutch clients in small markets...

Lebron/Klutch/Fenway will 100% own a team within the next 10 years in my opinion.

It might be an expansion franchise in Vegas. A part of me (without any insider info) thinks the NBA might be lining up a forced sale of the Suns too. I could see Sarver getting forced out and the Lebron led group taking control of the team. Close enough proximity to LA where he wants to be.

[Clemenza]

So Lebron wants to own the Vegas team. I really hope the league (and other owners) are not stupid enough to allow this because of his connections to Klutch.

Everyone knows what would happen with unhappy Klutch clients in small markets...

He'll be apart of an 3-4 man ownership group more than likely. The league might grant this wish for all that he's done for the NBA. The MLS did this with David Beckham as he and his group have their own franchise in Miami

[jokeboy86]

So Lebron wants to own the Vegas team. I really hope the league (and other owners) are not stupid enough to allow this because of his connections to Klutch.

Everyone knows what would happen with unhappy Klutch clients in small markets...

Everyone keeps citing Lebron's connections to Klutch but in a court of law is there actually anything legally tying Lebron to Klutch? If not then unfortunately people are just going to have to deal with it. And trust me owners at the end of the day are businessmen and they won't scrutinize Lebron for his connections because that means there could be a microscope on some of their business dealings and relationships and most of them don't want that either.

[Swish1906]

So Lebron wants to own the Vegas team. I really hope the league (and other owners) are not stupid enough to allow this because of his connections to Klutch.

Everyone knows what would happen with unhappy Klutch clients in small markets...

Everyone keeps citing Lebron's connections to Klutch but in a court of law is there actually anything legally tying Lebron to Klutch? If not then unfortunately people are just going to have to deal with it. And trust me owners at the end of the day are businessmen and they won't scrutinize Lebron for his connections because that means there could be a microscope on some of their business dealings and relationships and most of them don't want that either.

Anthony Davis saga, that is Lebron & Klutch in a Nutshell

[LakerLegend]

They should do Vancouver over Vegas. Vegas is literally the strip and nothing else.

[LakerLegend]

So basically Portland, N.O and Memphis are the likely relocation candidates. Best of luck to all of em I know what it feels like to have to fight for your franchise to stay.

New Orleans doesn't really seem like a viable long-term market.

I think Portland will stay, it's the only pro team in a decent sized market with great fan support.

Memphis should move to Nashville.

[azcatz11]

They should do Vancouver over Vegas. Vegas is literally the strip and nothing else.

No one went to the games in Vancouver. They had their shot and they blew it. Vegas is a much better option

[JimmyPlopper]

They should do Vancouver over Vegas. Vegas is literally the strip and nothing else.

No one went to the games in Vancouver. They had their shot and they blew it. Vegas is a much better option

I could see Vegas having success with attendance because of the constant stream of tourists. You can now see NFL, NHL, NCAA (UNLV) games in the city. And now maybe NBa. The only question I might have is how successful they might be in developing a strong hometown following. I could be wrong about that though

[azcatz11]

They should do Vancouver over Vegas. Vegas is literally the strip and nothing else.

No one went to the games in Vancouver. They had their shot and they blew it. Vegas is a much better option

I could see Vegas having success with attendance because of the constant stream of tourists. You can now see NFL, NHL, NCAA (UNLV) games in the city. And now maybe NBa. The only question I might have is how successful they might be in developing a strong hometown following. I could be wrong about that though

That’s exactly right Jimmy. Home town pride is a concern but Vegas is absolutely exploding right now as everyone and their mom is moving from California. Imagine having a cocktail at the Cosmo and heading to a game? Maybe some BJ after? The world is your oyster

[D.Brasco]

Not sure anyone mentioned this yet but do you think there is any part of KD that for legacy-image sake he may want to come back to Seattle at the end of his career to sort of book end things?