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Memphis Grizzlies' US point guard #12 Ja Morant (R) dribbles around Orlando Magic's US point guard #00 Anthony Black (L) during the 2025/2026 NBA season basketball match between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic at the O2 Arena in London on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images)
The NBA is exploring the opportunity of possibly expanding the league to 32 teams. The Memphis Grizzlies and every other team in the league would have to participate in an expansion draft. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the league is holding a vote on that next week.
With that vote happening next week, the league is looking to potentially expand to 32 teams. They are specifically looking at adding franchises to Seattle and Las Vegas. The Supersonics left for Oklahoma City almost 20 years ago.
If the vote passes, the two franchises would be added for the 2028-29 season. In that case, the league would have an expansion draft. Not only that, but the Grizzlies would potentially have to move conferences.
The Memphis Grizzlies Could Move to the Eastern Conference
Charania mentions that the Grizzlies are one of the teams under consideration to move to the Eastern Conference. The two new franchises would be in the Western Conference. Memphis is already close to several Eastern Conference teams, so switching conferences would be fairly easy geographically.
Memphis is a relatively new franchise, as well. They moved to Memphis in 2001 after originally being located in Vancouver. Moving conferences would be nothing compared to actually relocating the franchise entirely. However, their roster would have to change.
In an expansion draft, the Grizzlies would only be able to protect up to eight players. They wouldn’t be able to protect any of their potential free agents, and they would be guaranteed to lose at least one player from the roster. An expansion draft would be necessary to fill out the rosters of the two new teams.
Right now, the Grizzlies are in the process of a rebuild. After trading Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline, it’s clear they are moving in a different direction. Ja Morant could be traded when the summer rolls around, as well.
Memphis Would Have an Easier Time in the Eastern Conference
If the Grizzlies did have to move to the Eastern Conference, they would have an easier time with their rebuild. Over the last decade or so, the Grizzlies have had issues advancing in the playoffs because of how good the Western Conference has been.
The East has been the weaker conference for most of the last ten years. However, that might be shifting, as the East looks to be much better than pundits thought. Still, Memphis would have an easier time accelerating its rebuild in the Eastern Conference.
If Memphis does have to move conferences, it could develop some rivalries. Currently, the franchise doesn’t really have anyone they consider a true rival in the West. That might change if they are forced to switch conferences in the case of expansion.
Memphis could look like a much different team in 2028-29 than they do right now. Right now, they are trying to tank for one of the top-four picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. They are hoping to get a new superstar to build around for the next decade or so, as clearly Morant did not work out.