The NBA is on the cusp of a seismic shift, as the league’s Board of Governors has officially voted to explore expansion bids for new franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. After years of speculation, Wednesday’s decision marks the first concrete step toward bringing professional basketball back to the Pacific Northwest and introducing the NBA to the heart of the Nevada desert. The move, confirmed on March 25, 2026, doesn’t guarantee new teams just yet, but it opens the door to what could become the league’s most significant transformation in over two decades.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in a statement released by the league, emphasized the historical significance and fan support in both cities. “Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle – two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” Silver declared. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”
Seattle, of course, once boasted the SuperSonics, a beloved franchise that called the city home from 1967 until 2008, when the team relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. The city’s basketball faithful have clamored for a return ever since. Meanwhile, Las Vegas has steadily built its sports credentials, hosting the NBA Summer League for over 20 years and recently serving as the site of the NBA Cup final. With the NHL’s Golden Knights, WNBA’s Aces, NFL’s Raiders, and soon MLB’s Athletics all calling Las Vegas home, the NBA’s arrival seems almost inevitable.
The league will now work with investment bank PJT Partners to evaluate bids from potential ownership groups, a process expected to draw offers ranging from $7 billion to $10 billion for each franchise. That’s a staggering figure, and with 30 current NBA owners potentially pocketing $200 million or more each from the expansion fees, there’s no shortage of financial incentive to move ahead.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo expressed his excitement to The Athletic, stating, “I’m very excited to see the NBA advance this process toward a Las Vegas expansion team. … I look forward to continuing conversations with Commissioner Silver and league officials to ensure this expansion delivers lasting benefits for the state of Nevada.” Lombardo’s recent meeting with NBA legend Magic Johnson about potential ownership underscores the high-profile interest swirling around the Las Vegas bid.
On the Seattle front, Kraken owner Samantha Holloway has wasted no time preparing her city’s case. On March 23, Holloway formed an umbrella company specifically to pursue an expansion bid aimed at resurrecting the Sonics. Her group’s foresight is evident: Climate Pledge Arena, the former home of the Sonics and current home to the Kraken, was renovated with multiple NBA locker rooms in anticipation of a possible return. Those facilities may soon buzz with NBA activity once again.
But for all the excitement, the expansion process remains in its early stages. The Board of Governors’ vote simply allows the league to begin vetting bids and negotiating with interested parties in Seattle and Las Vegas. A final vote to approve the actual addition of new teams is expected later in 2026, requiring at least 23 of the league’s 30 owners to sign off. If all goes according to plan, the NBA could welcome its 31st and 32nd franchises ahead of the 2028-29 season—ending what would be a record 24-year gap between expansions. The last time the league grew was in 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) joined the fray.
Should both cities secure teams, they would enter the Western Conference, likely triggering a realignment across the league. Teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies—already geographically on the conference’s fringe—are prime candidates for a shift to the Eastern Conference. Divisional realignment and adjustments to the playoff and lottery structures would also be necessary, as everything from the postseason format to the NBA Cup groupings is currently designed for a 30-team league.
The expansion also presents intriguing questions about the mechanics of building new teams. The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) sets out that expansion franchises can spend 66.67% of the salary cap in their first year, 80% in their second, and reach the full cap by their third season. The rules for the expansion draft—where new teams select players from existing rosters—are somewhat fluid, with the league and the Players Association able to negotiate changes. Back in 2004, teams could protect eight players, but with modern rosters now including two-way contracts and deeper benches, the specifics may well change. As the CBS Sports analysis points out, “The NBA wants these new teams to succeed quickly in order to build up their fanbases. The other owners don’t want to create stiffer competition.” Finding the right balance will be a delicate dance.
Draft positioning for the new teams is another unresolved issue. In previous expansions, incoming franchises were slotted into predetermined draft positions, sometimes with restrictions on winning the lottery in their early years. The Bobcats, for example, picked fourth in their first draft and were eligible for the top pick. With the NBA currently reviewing its lottery rules—largely to combat tanking—there’s no guarantee the new teams will enjoy favorable draft odds. As CBS Sports notes, “We have no idea where the new teams will draft. Will it be a pre-determined slot? Or will they be allowed to participate in the lottery of their inaugural draft?”
There’s also potential for a ripple effect across the broader player market. With two new teams entering the league, demand for free agents could spike, possibly revitalizing a market that’s become somewhat stagnant in recent years due to contract extension incentives. “Adding two new teams has the potential to change the dynamic of the market,” CBS Sports explains. The new franchises, unburdened by existing contracts, could become attractive destinations for players seeking a fresh start and ample playing time.
Existing teams, meanwhile, will have to strategize carefully. The expansion draft could force difficult decisions about which players to protect and which to expose, especially as some franchises have accumulated deep benches and valuable young assets. Front offices might even make trades or adjust their roster planning to minimize potential losses, adding another layer of intrigue to the coming seasons.
Financially, the expansion is a game-changer. The anticipated $7-10 billion bids would set a new standard for franchise valuations, with only the Lakers’ $10 billion mark coming close. However, while the influx of expansion fees will benefit current owners, the league’s overall revenue pie will be sliced thinner. As Commissioner Silver noted back in December, “If you own 1/30 of this league, now you own 1/32 if you add two teams. So it’s a much more difficult economic analysis.” The challenge will be ensuring that the new teams add enough value—through media rights, sponsorships, and fan engagement—to offset the dilution of shared revenue.
For fans in Seattle and Las Vegas, the dream of NBA basketball is closer than it’s been in a generation. The process is far from complete, and there are still hurdles to clear, from ownership approvals to logistical overhauls. But the momentum is undeniable, and the league’s willingness to embrace change signals a bold new era on the horizon.
As the NBA embarks on this expansion journey, all eyes will be on the bids, the boardroom negotiations, and the evolving landscape of professional basketball. The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the league’s future is about to get a whole lot more interesting.