As we head into All-Star weekend, the NBA is officially ready to claim the spotlight. The NFL books have closed on a season defined by the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive masterclass against the New England Patriots, and now basketball fans are looking for their own historic finish.
While the Oklahoma City Thunder are the betting favorites to repeat as champions, all eyes are on the young San Antonio Spurs to see if they can spoil the party. There’s a bit of a “destiny” feel to it; the last time the Seahawks won a Super Bowl in 2014, the Spurs also claimed the NBA title after Kawhi Leonard famously locked down LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Expansion Vote Set to Return the Sonics to the Emerald City
The victory parade in Seattle might be winding down, but the city’s winning streak is just getting started. According to reporter Brad Townsend, the NBA Board of Governors is expected to take a monumental step this summer by officially voting on the league’s expansion. Seattle and Las Vegas have emerged as the undeniable frontrunners to land the two new franchises.
For the “12s” in Seattle, this is more than just business, it’s about righting a wrong. The city hasn’t had a team since the SuperSonics were uprooted and moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, but the fanbase has remained one of the most vocal in the country.
For Las Vegas, this move would complete its transformation into the ultimate sports capital. Adding an NBA franchise to a roster that already includes the Raiders (NFL), Aces (WNBA), Golden Knights (NHL), and the incoming Athletics (MLB) would give “Sin City” a clean sweep of the major professional leagues. The infrastructure is there, the money is there, and now, it seems the league’s blessing is finally there too.
Realignment and the Complexities of an Expansion Draft
While the announcement could come as early as this July, don’t expect to see new jerseys on the court for the 2026-27 season. The league needs a massive lead time to handle two major logistical hurdles. First is the inevitable conference realignment. Adding two teams in the West (Seattle and Vegas) means two current Western Conference teams will have to pack their bags for the East.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans are the most logical candidates for the move, a change that would fundamentally shift the power dynamics of both conferences.
Then, there’s the matter of the expansion draft. The proposed rules would allow existing franchises to “protect” eight players on their current rosters, leaving the rest of the pool available for the two new teams to pick from.
To fill out the remaining spots, the new front offices will have to look toward the G League and the international market to build a competitive roster from scratch. It’s a complex puzzle, but for a city like Seattle that has waited nearly two decades, a few more months of planning is a small price to pay to see the green and gold back on the floor.
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