The NBA’s long-anticipated expansion process appears to be entering its final stages, with Las Vegas and Seattle increasingly positioned to become the league’s next two franchises.
NBA insider Evan Sidery reported Saturday that league owners are expected to vote in July on approving expansion teams in both cities during Las Vegas Summer League. According to Sidery, “all indications” point toward unanimous approval from the Board of Governors.
That development would mark the clearest sign yet that the NBA is preparing to grow from 30 to 32 teams for the first time since the Charlotte Bobcats entered the league in 2004.
Momentum around expansion accelerated in March when the Board of Governors approved a formal exploratory process focused on Seattle and Las Vegas. Commissioner Adam Silver later described the move as the next step in evaluating ownership groups, arena plans and long-term economic projections.
“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 said in the league’s statement released in March.
Seattle has remained at the center of expansion conversations for years following the relocation of the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. The city previously hosted multiple Hall of Fame players, won the 1979 NBA championship and consistently ranked among the league’s stronger basketball markets before relocation.
Las Vegas, meanwhile, has transformed into one of the NBA’s most active business hubs. The city hosts Summer League annually and has already become home to franchises in the NFL, NHL and WNBA. League officials increasingly view Las Vegas as a viable full-time NBA market because of its tourism infrastructure, corporate partnerships and growing sports audience.
The financial stakes are expected to be historic. Expansion fees could reportedly reach between $7 billion and $10 billion per franchise, creating one of the largest ownership entry prices in professional sports history.
If the vote passes, the NBA would likely target the 2028-29 season for both teams to begin play. Sidery also reported that an expansion draft is expected in the summer of 2028, with existing teams allowed to protect a limited number of players from selection.
That process could significantly affect roster-building strategies across the league. Front offices may begin evaluating long-term contract structures, young-player development timelines and asset management differently as expansion approaches.
The addition of two franchises would also force scheduling and conference adjustments. The Western Conference currently includes powerhouse contenders such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, while the East features top teams including the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.
League approval still requires at least 23 of 30 governors to vote in favor. Based on current reporting, however, opposition appears minimal as the NBA moves closer to returning to Seattle and establishing a permanent franchise in Las Vegas.
