NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Discusses Expansion and Celtics Sale
NEW YORK — The NBA is buzzing with anticipation as Commissioner Adam Silver recently addressed the topic of league expansion. During a press conference following the NBA’s annual spring meeting of its Board of Governors in midtown Manhattan, Silver revealed that the league will delve deeper into expansion discussions once the sale of the Boston Celtics is finalized.
“We’re still in the process of digesting the Celtic transaction,” Silver stated. “There’s no question that a major transaction like that becomes relevant to expansion. That deal has just been presented to us, so we’re still analyzing it, and my sense is once we’ve been through that process that we’ll turn to it in a more serious way.”
Silver has previously mentioned that the completion of the collective bargaining agreement and the league’s new national television contract were prerequisites for considering expansion. At the last Board of Governors meeting in September, Silver indicated that the plan was to address expansion this season.
According to sources, the sale of the Celtics, announced to be sold to a group led by billionaire William Chisholm for a record $6.1 billion, is seen as a precursor to potential expansion. This sale sets a benchmark for potential expansion fees. However, the league is also considering the ongoing uncertainty around regional sports networks and the associated revenue loss, which adds another layer of complexity to the expansion discussion.
Speculation is rife that if the league expands, it will likely add two teams, with Las Vegas and Seattle being the frontrunners. The return of the NBA to Seattle, which lost the SuperSonics in 2008 when they moved to Oklahoma City, is a topic of great interest.
“I wish I could be more conclusive today and say, ‘Here it is. Here’s the timeline,'” Silver said. “Having said that though, I would just say again to our many fans in Seattle, and I hear from them often and the legacy of the Sonics is still very strong and it’s a fantastic basketball market, is that we are very focused on it.”
Silver emphasized that the lack of a public timeline does not mean the league is not considering Seattle seriously. “We don’t take those fans for granted. We’re thankful that the interest has remained over all these years,” he added.
Expansion was just one of several topics Silver addressed during the press conference, which was divided into two parts. The first half focused on the league’s plans, alongside FIBA, to explore the possibility of a new European league.
- Silver confirmed that there have been no discussions about changing the structure of team ownership following the proposed sale of the Celtics, which includes private equity fund Sixth Street buying 20 percent of the team.
- Regarding the Minnesota Timberwolves, Silver mentioned that owner Glen Taylor is still considering whether to appeal the arbitration ruling in favor of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.
- On the topic of tanking, Silver acknowledged the league’s efforts to address it through measures like flattening lottery odds and creating the play-in tournament.
- Silver expressed optimism about the NBA’s ability to derive value from the evolving local media landscape, despite the uncertainty surrounding regional sports networks.
- In light of recent gambling-related issues, Silver noted that legalized sports betting has helped bring such situations to light through advanced analytics.
Silver’s comments reflect a league in transition, balancing the excitement of potential expansion with the challenges of evolving media landscapes and ownership structures. As the NBA continues to navigate these waters, fans and stakeholders alike are eager to see how these developments unfold.
Originally Written by: Tim Bontemps
