The NBA took the first step toward putting an expansion team in Las Vegas on Wednesday in announcing they were beginning to explore expansion to Las Vegas.
The NBA board of governors vote is just the first step of many that will occur along the way to Las Vegas potentially landing an NBA franchise.
Who will own team?
The next step will be deciding who the potential ownership group of an NBA would be. The ownership group will need to pay an expansion fee in the area of $7 billion to $10 billion. That money would be divided among the 30 current teams.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson and his group the MAGI and a group headed by Golden Knights owner Bill Foley are the two groups to public state their interest in owning a team. Fenway Sports Group, which includes NBA star LeBron James, said they are no longer interested in being part of an NBA expansion team ownership group, despite previous statements made by James expressing that would be interested in owning a Las Vegas team.
Where a Las Vegas NBA will a team play?
During the discussions between the NBA and potential ownership groups, where the team will play will be part of those talks. T-Mobile Arena is in the running, with Johnson saying his MAGI group would be open their potential team playing there.
There have also been multiple NBA-ready arena projects floated by multiple groups, including the MAGI, Oak View Group, LVXP and the Three Tribes group.
How will a Las Vegas NBA franchise field a team of players?
If the NBA eventually approves adding a team in Las Vegas and Seattle, an expansion draft will then have to be held, drafting players from the other 30 NBA teams. In 2004 when the NBA expanded to Charlotte, teams could protect up to eight players each. It remains to be seen the number of players that teams are allowed to protect if the NBA approves expansion.
Las Vegas and Seattle would only be allowed to draft one player from each team.
Both Las Vegas and Seattle would also be given a lottery pick in the first NBA Draft that they are available for.
What happens to the NBA’s Eastern and Western conferences?
Adding two West Coast teams would mean the NBA would need to realign the Eastern and Western Conference, to have 16 teams in both.
With Las Vegas and Seattle both primed to be in the Western Conference, the NBA would need to move two current Western Conference teams to the Eastern Conference.
Early candidates include the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.