The NBA’s 30 team owners are preparing for a significant Board of Governors meeting on Monday and Tuesday, with several major issues expected to dominate the discussions.
One of the biggest subjects will be the situation surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers following the league’s punishment of the organization for salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard.
With Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank both suspended, questions remain about the Clippers’ leadership structure.
Other owners are expected to seek clarification about who will serve as the franchise’s acting governor and who will oversee basketball operations during Frank’s absence.
The league’s monitoring of the Clippers is another unresolved matter.
Details regarding how that oversight will operate have yet to be fully established, while the previously agreed trade involving Los Angeles and the Toronto Raptors also remains incomplete.
Expansion is expected to be another major part of the meetings.
On the domestic side, owners are set to continue evaluating whether the NBA should move forward with adding franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas.
The league’s international plans could produce equally important discussions.
Owners are expected to receive updates regarding NBA Europe, with potential decisions about the project’s next steps also possible.
A major question surrounding the European initiative is the NBA’s relationship with the EuroLeague.
The league must determine whether cooperation with the existing competition is possible or whether NBA Europe will move forward independently and become a direct rival.
With the Clippers situation, domestic expansion and the future of NBA Europe all on the agenda, the upcoming Board of Governors meetings could have significant implications for the league’s direction.
