Times are changing in the NBA, and the league could soon be adding a pair of new franchises, expanding the league to 32 teams.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the NBA will hold a vote at the Board of Governors meetings in one week to further explore the idea of expansion. The two cities in discussion are Las Vegas and Seattle.
If approved, the league is targeting the 2028=29 season to premiere the two new franchises, and the NBA believes there will be enough support to make it happen. Charania reports that “industry executives project will be bids in the $7-to-$10 billion range for each team.”
This first vote is only to explore purchasing processes for the two new franchises, while a second vote could be conducted later this year about expanding league transactions to 32 teams. Both rounds of voting need the support of at least 23 of the current 30 governors across the NBA.
So, what does this mean for the rest of the NBA? By adding two teams close to the West Coast, the NBA would have too many teams in the Western Conference. Charania reports that the league would consider moving either the Memphis Grizzlies or the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Eastern Conference to allow for the balance of 16 teams in each conference. This would, of course, mean shuffling the divisions again, as well.
The decision between the two teams isn’t as easy as it may seem. While the Grizzlies are located further east than the Timberwolves, they are located closer to their divisional opponents. Memphis is much closer to San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and New Orleans than Minnesota is to Oklahoma City, Denver, Portland and Utah.
The NBA will likely think about long-term ramifications when moving one team to either conference, but in the short-term, it could shake up the standings significantly. While Memphis is stuck in a rebuild, the Timberwolves are led by superstar guard Anthony Edwards and are competitive within the Western Conference, which is perceived by many as the superior conference.
Should Minnesota switch to the Eastern Conference, it could present a new obstacle for the conference’s best teams, such as the Celtics, Knicks, Pistons and Cavaliers.
The league should have some clarity soon about potentially the first expansion in the NBA since 2004.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.