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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 16: Kevin Durant #35 of the Seattle SuperSonics awaits a free throw by the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Philips Arena November 16, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The NBA has been rumored to be exploring expansion for years. Ever since the Seattle Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City almost 20 years ago, the league has been trying to find a way to get a team back there. The last movement the NBA had was putting the Hornets back in Charlotte in 2004, although they were the Bobcats at first.
Sitting at 30 franchises, the NBA is looking to expand by two teams. Not only would the Supersonics return to Seattle, but the league would also put a franchise in Las Vegas. Vegas already has a professional hockey and football team. The Oakland A’s are moving there in 2028.
The NBA would add both of these franchises for the 2028-2029 season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. This is all predicated on 23 of the league owners approving this. If it does happen, how would an expansion draft work?
How the NBA Would Execute an Expansion Draft
If the two new teams are approved, the league would execute an expansion draft to distribute talent to the two new franchises. The 30 teams in the league would be able to protect eight players on the roster. Players who are about to become free agents are not eligible to be part of that pool.
All of the teams have to leave at least one player exposed in the draft. However, a team cannot lose more than one player. That means that once a team has a player taken, they are off the board and will get to retain the rest of the players they exposed.
Since two teams would be added at the same time, and full 15 man rosters would presumably be drafted, that means every team would lose a player. That means every team in the league would have to re-tool once the expansion draft is over in a couple of years.
New Franchises Would Command Hefty Prices
If the NBA does decide to expand, the expense to own one of the new franchises would be hefty. The league expects new franchises to fetch between $7 and $10 billion. That would allow each of the other league owners to receive a large check for the expansion fees.
Adding two teams to the league would redistribute talent in a very interesting way. Depth would be lost for almost every team in the league, and it would be even more difficult for dynasties to be built in the NBA. That has already started to be the case with the introduction of the salary cap aprons.
Expansion talks come as the NBA is looking to start a league in Europe. That process has been underway for quite a while, as the final bids for that are due at the end of March. How this will all add money to the league remains to be seen.
The NBA is looking for ways to increase profits for each of the current owners, right after the league got a large check from the new TV rights deal. Expansion is the best way for them to do that.