Following an NBA Board of Governors assembly on Tuesday in New York, commissioner Adam Silver instructed reporters that there was “not quite a lot of dialogue” with the board relating to growth, however not as a result of it does not stay a powerful chance that the league is shifting towards including one other franchise or two.
“There was not quite a lot of dialogue on this assembly about growth, however solely largely as a result of — not for lack of curiosity — it is as a result of we had stated to [potential franchise suitors] that we’re not fairly prepared,” Silver instructed reporters. “…It was one thing that we instructed our board we plan to deal with this season. We’re not fairly prepared but. There’s curiosity within the course of, and I feel that we’re not there but with having made particular choices about markets and even frankly, to increase.
“I feel over time organizations ought to develop as applicable,” Silver continued. “However it will get difficult when it comes to promoting fairness within the league and what meaning for the present tv relationships, et cetera. What we have instructed events is: ‘thanks to your curiosity, we’ll get again to you.’ That is definitely the case in Seattle.”
Seattle, which misplaced the SuperSonics to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008, is among the main expansion-candidate cities. Seattle will host a Clippers-Blazers preseason recreation on Oct. 11, and everybody will likely be watching.
“We’re at all times being attentive to what’s taking place. In different arenas all through the US, once we do play video games there, we glance very carefully on the assist we get in these markets,” Silver stated. “I do know we’ll get great assist in that preseason recreation [in Seattle] once more.”
Along with Seattle, Las Vegas is taken into account one other high candidate for growth. Silver has additionally famous Mexico Metropolis as a chance, however that is in all probability farther down the highway. Two extra franchises would get the NBA to 32 groups, equal to the NFL and NHL.
Silver had beforehand stated growth could be addressed after the NBA wrapped up its new media offers, however that’s now performed with the league anticipated to herald north of $74 billion over the subsequent 11 years.
That additional income ought to be capable to gas growth, however once more, Silver and the homeowners aren’t fairly able to go down that highway. The information right here is that Silver is saying growth will likely be addressed “this season.” So it is not that far down the highway.
