‘We’re not quite ready yet’

When thinking about the future of the NBA, one of the most talked about possibilities is expanding the league to more franchises in North America. However, after years of pushing the topic off the agenda, commissioner Adam Silver revealed that they are still ready to allow new clubs into the league.

According to the director, the possible expansions were not discussed during his last meeting with the NBA board of directors, but the topic will come up at some point in the upcoming campaign.

“There wasn’t a lot of talk about expansion at this meeting, but that wasn’t just because of a lack of interest, but because we told them we’re not quite ready yet,” Adam said during his news conference Tuesday at a Manhattan hotel.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that the league’s owners aren’t ready to commit to expansion, but that interest in Seattle remains high. photo.twitter.com/nfzMBL6KaJ

— KOMO News (@komonews) September 11, 2024

“It was something that we told our board that we plan to tackle this season, and we’re not quite ready for it yet. But I think there’s certainly interest in the process, and I think we’re not there yet in terms of making specific decisions about markets or even frankly expanding,” he continued.

Expectations for the league to expand into new basketball capitals have been high in recent years, with Seattle and Las Vegas the most likely destinations. However, Silver has maintained that he needs to sort out the new television deal and collective bargaining agreements before he can think about new teams.

“The answer is yes,” the league executive said. “We always pay attention to what’s happening in other arenas in the United States when we play games there. We look very carefully at the support that we get in those markets.”

Silver was clear that they are still open to new proposals. “But by the way, we are looking everywhere. I think we have quite a library of arenas around the world now, and partly because there are things we can learn even if we don’t play there regularly,” he explained.

The executive also addressed the fact that two league franchises are currently involved in sale processes, but that the NBA has no business being involved there.

In addition to expansions, a few teams are selling their ownership stakes and going through lawsuits on their own. First up is Minnesota, which is handing over longtime owner Glen Taylor to entrepreneurial duo Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore but has been embroiled in a legal battle for months now.

In second place is none other than the NBA champion, as the Celtics have also sold to new owners. “The short answer is no,” Silver said. “That is a process that is independent of the league that is set out in the sale agreement, and because, depending on the outcome, the league would only then proceed with a vetting process for ownership.

“So it’s kind of a pen-and-ink situation in the league office; we’re not involved in that situation at the moment in any way other than waiting for the outcome of that arbitration.”

While his take on the Celtics’ situation is somewhat sticky, the league commissioner explained that every case is different. “In terms of ownership composition and any potential incremental transaction, what we’ve said is there before us that you’re considering and we’ll look at it on a unique basis,” Silver concluded.