Shams Charania predicts NBA expansion timeline: "I don't think expansion is coming for several years”
The NBA has continued to entertain the idea of expanding its league. But that dream could take some time before it becomes reality.
Over the last several years, momentum for the NBA to add franchises has picked up. Many have speculated that the league could look to add up to two teams. There's been plenty of excitement speculating about where those franchises could be.
One commonly rumored destination is Seattle. The city was previously home to the Seattle SuperSonics before they became the OKC Thunder. The city is known for being passionate about basketball and seems to be a favorite if an expansion team was added. Another possible destination is Las Vegas, which has drawn plenty of intrigue by fans.
On Fanduel TV's "Run It Back," NBA insider Shams Charania stressed caution with the timeline of expansion:
"I think Vegas and Seattle are the two cities that the league would probably hone in on. But I don't think expansion is coming for several years now. Three, five, seven years down the line. I think once the NBA is through the CBA negotiations, the new TV deal, couple years maybe after that. You're looking at 2026-ish, you know, when maybe they can get to something."
"I don't think expansion is coming for several years...3, 5, 7 years down the line. You're looking at 2026-ish, you know, when maybe they can get to something."
@ShamsCharania on the NBA expanding to more teams #RunItBack
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Will the NBA look to add expansion teams down the road?
The game of basketball has continued to expand its reach in popularity each season. Basketball has become more popular than ever, even when it comes to a global scale. Not only have fans admired the sport, but international talent has started to migrate to the NBA rapidly.
Because of this realization, it seems as if it is only a matter of time before the league adds more teams. But Shams Charania brought up a number of important details that could slow down that process.
REPORT: Mexico City is a “legit contender” to receive an NBA expansion team.
(via @andscape) https://t.co/uQyEjGjKcc
The NBA is currently in the middle of negotiating a new CBA deal. The current deal was for seven years and expires after the 2023-24 season. Before any expansion talks can have some serious momentum, there will need to be a new, lengthy CBA deal in place.
Another crucial component is the league's TV deal. One of the most important revenue pieces for the league, the current deal is set to expire after the 2024-25 season. The current TV deal was negotiated in 2014 and was signed as a nine-year deal worth $24 billion. Speculation has it that the next negotiations of contracts could get difficult, as the price tag for the NBA could skyrocket.
Because of both the CBA and TV deal situations, it would seem as if any expansion talks would be on the back burner. They will both take priority, and once those contracts are concluded, the talks for expansion teams can take a more serious approach.