NBA Expansion!

[Melrose Munch]

Louisville, Pittsburgh, Omaha, Las Vegas, Vancouver and Mexico City

The NBA could open up expansion bidding once a new collective bargaining agreement is in place.

Seattle has been without a franchise since the Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008 and would figure to be a leading candidate to receive an expansion team.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/243593/NBA-Could-Begin-Expansion-Talks-After-Signing-New-CBA

Click to read more...

 

[Avs_19]

Seattle should top the list but they need to get the arena deal finalized first. That happens and they'll probably get their team back.

It would be cool to see the Grizzlies return as well. Basketball is much bigger in Canada now and hopefully the team wouldn't be mismanaged like they were before.

Just look at their draft history:

1995 - Bryant Reeves (6th overall)
1996 - Shareef Abdur-Rahim (3rd overall)
1997 - Antonio Daniels (4th overall)
1998 - Mike Bibby (2nd overall)
1999 - Steve Francis (2nd overall)
2000 - Stromile Swift (2nd overall)

 

[darko]

Lol Big Country. Now that's a blast from the past.

 

[Voight]

Well Chris Hansen (Seattle) is likely stilll interested in a team should the NBA grant him one. Then he'll build that arena he made plans for 5 years ago.

I think VAN would be a great choice for another team. Charlotte got a second chance (just a few seasons after their team left too), New Orleans got a second chance etc. They have an arena that can work right away and their old logo was awesome.

 

[Voight]

Seattle should top the list but they need to get the arena deal finalized first. That happens and they'll probably get their team back.

It would be cool to see the Grizzlies return as well. Basketball is much bigger in Canada now and hopefully the team wouldn't be mismanaged like they were before.

Just look at their draft history:

1995 - Bryant Reeves (6th overall)
1996 - Shareef Abdur-Rahim (3rd overall)
1997 - Antonio Daniels (4th overall)
1998 - Mike Bibby (2nd overall)
1999 - Steve Francis (2nd overall)
2000 - Stromile Swift (2nd overall)

They also drafted Shane Battier (6th) in 2001 & traded Rahim for Gasol right after the draft that year.

 

[Avs_19]

Lol Big Country. Now that's a blast from the past.

Just look at that core!

Shareef was actually good and Bibby wasn't bad but they missed on so many better players with those picks. Raptors drafted Stoudamire, McGrady, and Carter after the Grizzlies picked in three of those drafts.

 

[ADifferentTim]

First five + Seattle should have the funding to pull it off.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

If Pittsburgh gets a team, is it a guarantee that their colors would be black and gold?

 

[Melrose Munch]

http://www.sonicsrising.com/2016/10/13/13264264/multiple-sources-nba-expansion-seattle

 

[GKJ]

If Pittsburgh gets a team, is it a guarantee that their colors would be black and gold?

Yes.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

I'd like to see them contract to 16 teams.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Its already hard enough for smaller markets to retain talent or attract talent

Omaha and Louisville will struggle mightily in that aspect

And Mexico City is a pipedream ,, Many players wont want to go there and move/relocate families if traded

I bet we would see endless amount of players involved in deals with Mexico City not reporting after trade

 

[Voight]

Its already hard enough for smaller markets to retain talent or attract talent

Omaha and Louisville will struggle mightily in that aspect

Louisville's Metro Area is right with New Orleans, Jax and higher than Buffalo's.

 

[mouser]

I'd like to see them contract to 16 teams.

Even Steve Ballmer couldn't afford to pull that off.

 

[BigMac1212]

If Pittsburgh gets a team, is it a guarantee that their colors would be black and gold?

It has to be. All other pro teams has those colors. No way a Pitt NBA team will combobreak the trend.

As much as I like a Vancouver team, I tried doing both Seattle and Vancouver in the same league, and I couldn't manage the divisions. Seattle is the obvious first expansion team choice. I think the 2nd expansion team would have to be on the eastern US. Pittsburgh, while small, has the most modern arena that can house an NBA team. Louisville is the next best choice. Baltimore could be an option if they would build a modern arena. The Hampton Roads is a pipe dreams even in my expansion idea. I really doubt the NBA will go the NHL ways and add the teams 1 at a time.

 

[HisIceness]

Louisville is an intriguing option. Kentucky has no major league sports at this time and Basketball is huge in the state. You would have a team that U of L and U of Kentucky fans can root for together. Maybe a little too close for the Indiana Pacers comfort, but having an entire state to draw from helps their case. The KFC Yum! Center would probably have some scheduling conflicts though, but probably not a big deal.

Pittsburgh, I'm sure the residents would support a team but it seems to me the city is fine as a 3 sport town. Ditto Vegas being right now a one-sport town w/ the NFL possibly on the horizon.

Not sure about Vancouver, probably would be a better draw for free agents now than it was 15-20 years ago so that should help their case, but is it enough? I doubt it.

Forget Omaha and Mexico City.

 

[sjsharks92]

Just look at that core!

Shareef was actually good and Bibby wasn't bad but they missed on so many better players with those picks. Raptors drafted Stoudamire, McGrady, and Carter after the Grizzlies picked in three of those drafts.

False, the Raptors did not draft Carter. The Warriors did. Then the Warriors shipped Carter to the Raptors for the player they drafted: Antawn Jamison.

 

[sjsharks92]

Move the Bucks out of Milwaukee and bring them to Vegas. Then you can put Memphis in the Eastern Conference.

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

False, the Raptors did not draft Carter. The Warriors did. Then the Warriors shipped Carter to the Raptors for the player they drafted: Antawn Jamison.

NBA has weird rules about trading picks on draft day. Most of the time teams already have a trade agreed to and are picking for each other. So while the Warriors technically drafted Carter, it's almost a certainty they were picking him for Toronto.

 

[sjsharks92]

NBA has weird rules about trading picks on draft day. Most of the time teams already have a trade agreed to and are picking for each other. So while the Warriors technically drafted Carter, it's almost a certainty they were picking him for Toronto.

True, but technically the Warriors drafted him.

I was just being a stickler.

 

[Power Man]

Yay more watering down

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

Russell Wilson is in a group trying to bring NBA and NHL teams to Seattle.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

If they think small markets that currently exist have issues retaining/attracting free agents, what hope would an Omaha NBA team have?

 

[BigMac1212]

If they think small markets that currently exist have issues retaining/attracting free agents, what hope would an Omaha NBA team have?

Slim, giving the small capacity CenturyLink Center has in the city. Then again, the Coyotes are planning a 16,000+ arena, so what do I know.

 

[Stylizer1]

Seattle should top the list but they need to get the arena deal finalized first. That happens and they'll probably get their team back.

It would be cool to see the Grizzlies return as well. Basketball is much bigger in Canada now and hopefully the team wouldn't be mismanaged like they were before.

Just look at their draft history:

1995 - Bryant Reeves (6th overall)
1996 - Shareef Abdur-Rahim (3rd overall)
1997 - Antonio Daniels (4th overall)
1998 - Mike Bibby (2nd overall)
1999 - Steve Francis (2nd overall)
2000 - Stromile Swift (2nd overall)

They weren't allowed to get the first overall for 3 years. That's what killed the team more than anything.