It’s too soon to say for sure if commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA are considering expansion, but given the money new teams could generate, a couple could indeed be on the horizon.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, league executives have floated an entry fee of $2.5 billion apiece for two expansion teams to come aboard in the near future.
And unlike other streams of revenue, team owners would not have to share entry fee money with the players union. Instead, it could result in $160 million per each of the current 30 teams — which could go a long way in eliminating the massive debt the NBA is stockpiling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seattle, Las Vegas, Louisville and Virginia Beach, Va., have long been considered potential NBA expansion locations.
Seattle, in particular, could have multiple offers from potential owners — as the city has maintained the SuperSonics nickname and green-and-yellow color scheme. The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder in 2008.
As Windhorst noted, the Minnesota Timberwolves are for sale, but may not generate more than $1.5 billion from a buyer. Current owner Glen Taylor has said he will only sell to someone who intends to keep the franchise in Minneapolis.
