LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The NBA will take another step forward as it continues to explore expansion, Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Two committees of owners will look into expanding after the NBA's board of governors tasked the league office with conducting an in-depth analysis, Silver said.
That analysis includes economic issues, like future growth of the league, and on-court issues, such as an expansion draft and whether that leads to a dilution of talent.
"You are selling equity, and for every additional team you add, you're diluting the current economics of the league," the commissioner said.
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Silver didn't mention any specific cities, saying only that several markets have shown interest, but Las Vegas and Seattle have always been top of mind when it comes to NBA expansion.
Las Vegas has been the central base for NBA Summer League for several years now and recently started hosting the **[in-season tournament semifinals and championship](https://news3lv.com/news/local/dates-announced-emirates-nba-cup-semifinals-championship-las-vegas-t-mobile-arena-basketball-in-season-tournament-sports#)**. Seattle was home to the SuperSonics before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder.
"I feel like we already have the 31st franchise here," Silver said about Las Vegas. "We own, essentially, two weeks of the calendar. We are a regular fixture. We've been coming back for the NBA Cup, so it feels like we do have an enormous presence here in Las Vegas."
Owning an NBA franchise would not be cheap. A group bought the Boston Celtics in March for a valuation of $6.1 billion, and three months later, the Los Angeles Lakers were sold at a valuation of $10 billion. Silver acknowledged these sales would factor into expansion.
"It doesn't necessarily complicate it more, but it certainly is an indication of value," he said. "And it's just one other factor we have to ... look at as we're trying to think, what is the value of expansion? What does it mean to dilute the existing equity, and how additive is this potentially to the league by adding an additional team?"
There's no specific timeline for expansion, according to Silver, who reiterated the league was at "Day One" of its in-depth analysis.
NBA owners want to examine all the angles when it comes to adding teams before reaching a decision.
"In terms of price, potential timing, too early to say," the commissioner told reporters. "And again, I think that assumes the outcome of this analysis. It is truly a complicated issue."