NBA continues Seattle, Las Vegas expansion talks

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said expansion discussions are ongoing about Seattle and Las Vegas, but any teams would join several seasons from now; the league has said it aims to decide whether to expand by year-end. Silver praised Seattle’s arena and NBA history, while pointing to Las Vegas’s sports market and possible new arena plans, as multiple groups compete there. A report that Seattle is no longer a lock has fueled speculation that the league is using public uncertainty to press Seattle’s bid higher: one account put its expected fee at $6–7 billion, below the more than $10 billion reportedly anticipated in Las Vegas. Silver also raised Mexico City as a possible longer-term option, not a current expansion contender, citing its large population and basketball following.