NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ambivalent on league's 'expansion' plans

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Tuesday that the league has officially begun an in-depth analysis of potential expansion, a move prompted by the team owners themselves.

While there’s no set timeline, fee structure, or guarantee expansion will occur, Silver called this the 'first day' of a long and complex process.

"A lot of analysis still needs to be done and nothing has been predetermined," Silver said after the NBA's board of governors discussed the topic of expansion this week in Las Vegas.


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Rather than forming a new committee, the league’s advisory finance and audit & strategy committees will lead the review.

"A consensus quickly formed that the league office should do the work," Silver said, "and work with these particular committees and the board and present that analysis."

Silver emphasized that no decisions have been made, and the process remains in early stages.

"We're now engaging in this in-depth analysis, something we weren't prepared to do before," Silver said. "But beyond that, as I said, it's really day one of that analysis. In terms of price, potential timeline -- too early to say. And again, I think that also assumes the outcome of this analysis. It is truly a complicated issue."

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Cities like Las Vegas and Seattle remain strong candidates but Silver reiterated that expansion is complicated due to economic dilution.

“For every team you add, you're diluting the economics of the current league,” Silver said, adding that selling equity while the league is thriving makes the stakes higher.

The next board of governors meeting is expected in September.