NBA 'widely believed' to expand with Seattle, Las Vegas as frontrunner cities

According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, the NBA could be on the cusp of league expansion, given the revenue hit caused by the pandemic. Seattle and Las Vegas are two notable leading candidates to add an NBA franchise.

"It’s widely believed the NBA will expand for the first time since rounding out to 30 teams in 2004 partly to recoup losses from the pandemic," Grange wrote. "Returning to Seattle as part of the process is almost a given (with Las Vegas as the other likely city) now that the arena issues that led to the Supersonics leaving for Oklahoma City in 2008 have been resolved."

Grange added that current Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has shown signs of wanting to pursue a contract extension, though joining a potential expansion franchise is enticing. 

"But there is no timetable for that, and typically there is a minimum two-year lag between franchises being awarded and play beginning," Grange said. "And given the league hasn’t formally announced any plan to expand, it makes little sense for Ujiri to remain on the sidelines passing up an opportunity to be the highest-paid executive in the sport while waiting for a day that could be years in the future."

The last time the league expanded, the Charlotte Bobcats joined the Association as the 30th franchise.