Expansion Vote in late March 2026 - Play to begin in 28-29 season

eleventy

G-League

As expected, the NBA is moving towards expansion, with a dispersal draft and two new franchises in the west (frontrunners are Las Vegas and Seattle), meaning at least one west team must realign in the east (Minnesota, Memphis and New Orleans are candidates).

in March, the march to a 32 team league begins with a preliminary vote by the Board of Governors.

Now, we wait to see who the bidding owners are (with $6-10 billion expected in an expansion fee for each franchise).

I'll be interested to see if Doug Christie becomes a candidate for the Seattle HC position. I suppose "finishing strong" (as we are inexplicably doing) would be a selling point.

Others on this board have suggested that Jason Terry or Jamal Crawford would be stronger HC candidates, but it looks to me like NBC is grooming Crawford to be on the lead announcing team on NBA telecasts, so that might be a preferable landing spot for him.

Go, Doug (get out while you still have your dignity intact).
 
It's a bit early to think about the expansion draft, but the basic idea from past expansion drafts is that at least one player must be left unprotected, and at most 8 players may be protected (including RFAs). In the past RFAs who have been exposed and selected became UFAs, but I wonder if that might change and the RFA rights be assigned to the selecting team, as that actually makes more sense.

As the summer of 2028 stands right now, we have the following players currently under contract:
Keegan Murray (2/$58M)
Nique Clifford (1/$6M team option)
Dylan Cardwell (1/$2.8M team option)
Devin Carter (RFA)
Maxime Raynaud (RFA)

We can also expect to have the following players:
2026 FRP (own, 2 years)
2027 FRP (own, 3 years)

And we might have this player:
2027 FRP (SAS, if #1-#16, 3 years)

Here we (may) have already reached the 8 player protection limit without considering three second-round picks we will also have and any free agents that we sign to longer-term deals (presumably in 2027, I don't expect us to be super active this offseason). The last time there was an expansion draft, we blew Gerald Wallace because we didn't have a "sacrificial contract" on the roster (i.e. a two-year deal signed in the previous offseason). This time around we will probably know better - but we may have enough young talent to protect that it doesn't matter. Nonetheless, don't forget, 2027 is the offseason to sign the Drew Eubanks of the league to a two-year deal just in case...
 
It's a bit early to think about the expansion draft, but the basic idea from past expansion drafts is that at least one player must be left unprotected, and at most 8 players may be protected (including RFAs). In the past RFAs who have been exposed and selected became UFAs, but I wonder if that might change and the RFA rights be assigned to the selecting team, as that actually makes more sense.

As the summer of 2028 stands right now, we have the following players currently under contract:
Keegan Murray (2/$58M)
Nique Clifford (1/$6M team option)
Dylan Cardwell (1/$2.8M team option)
Devin Carter (RFA)
Maxime Raynaud (RFA)

We can also expect to have the following players:
2026 FRP (own, 2 years)
2027 FRP (own, 3 years)

And we might have this player:
2027 FRP (SAS, if #1-#16, 3 years)

Here we (may) have already reached the 8 player protection limit without considering three second-round picks we will also have and any free agents that we sign to longer-term deals (presumably in 2027, I don't expect us to be super active this offseason). The last time there was an expansion draft, we blew Gerald Wallace because we didn't have a "sacrificial contract" on the roster (i.e. a two-year deal signed in the previous offseason). This time around we will probably know better - but we may have enough young talent to protect that it doesn't matter. Nonetheless, don't forget, 2027 is the offseason to sign the Drew Eubanks of the league to a two-year deal just in case...

i can't remember if the last expansion led to an increase (trade a guy before you lose him anyway) or a reduction in trades (because you only want to acquire someone you have room to protect), but trades MUST be affected by who you can still protect.

and, there will probably be some jockeying, as teams try to offer something to an expansion team (future pick?) to get them to select the player you WANT to lose (thus, "protecting" the rest).
 
It's a bit early to think about the expansion draft, but the basic idea from past expansion drafts is that at least one player must be left unprotected, and at most 8 players may be protected (including RFAs). In the past RFAs who have been exposed and selected became UFAs, but I wonder if that might change and the RFA rights be assigned to the selecting team, as that actually makes more sense.

As the summer of 2028 stands right now, we have the following players currently under contract:
Keegan Murray (2/$58M)
Nique Clifford (1/$6M team option)
Dylan Cardwell (1/$2.8M team option)
Devin Carter (RFA)
Maxime Raynaud (RFA)

We can also expect to have the following players:
2026 FRP (own, 2 years)
2027 FRP (own, 3 years)

And we might have this player:
2027 FRP (SAS, if #1-#16, 3 years)

Here we (may) have already reached the 8 player protection limit without considering three second-round picks we will also have and any free agents that we sign to longer-term deals (presumably in 2027, I don't expect us to be super active this offseason). The last time there was an expansion draft, we blew Gerald Wallace because we didn't have a "sacrificial contract" on the roster (i.e. a two-year deal signed in the previous offseason). This time around we will probably know better - but we may have enough young talent to protect that it doesn't matter. Nonetheless, don't forget, 2027 is the offseason to sign the Drew Eubanks of the league to a two-year deal just in case...

You think Devin Carter will be protected?
 
The projected 7-10 Billion expansion fee I’ve been seeing reported around is absolutely CRAZY! Especially for a league that really isn’t in top shape right now and has been seeing decline in viewership in recent years.

It ain’t my $$$ but still. That’s a ginormous fee.
 
at first, i saw "6 billion" as the number - now it looks like they have a "range" (7-10 billion).

looks like they want, "whatever they can get"

the "decline in viewership" might have something to do with trying to operate "League Pass" with "robot assistance" which simply DOES NOT WORK.

but since qwerty is on here and we did not finish our prior "luka/vlade" go-round (for the 599th time), i actually have a "new point" to make on that score:

here it is:

qwerty believes that vlade's relationship to luka's dad played no part in him selecting bagley over luka

the facts are that vlade knew luka's dad as a player and then as a coach.

he knew luka from when he was a pre-teen.

as i think about that, i ask myself,:

"WHEN (if EVER) has a GM had long term, intimate knowledge about a developing prospect whose FATHER is a friend/acquaintance of that GM over a period of many years?"

i mean, it hardly EVER happens that way.

normally, the scouting department reviews film of college/hs games and MAYBE sends a coach to interview his HS coach and maybe a player or two from that team.

but mostly, the player's likes and dislikes, his way of doing things remain a mystery (the player will say "all the right things") and the team relies on gut feelings.

but in Luka's case, Vlade had known him since he was a kid and had a long relationship with his father (people differ on the NATURE of their relationship but they HAD ONE and STILL DO).

and THAT is what set Luka apart from everyone else in that draft - Vlade knew him well - and Vlade probably knew the family better than every other GM in that draft.

it's one thing to say, "i didn't think his game would translate to the NBA" or "We already had Fox" (yes, but we had him when we selected haliburton and what about BPA?)

but you can't get away from, "he had more info on luka than he had on anyone else in the draft and he didn't take him" - couldn't vlade's relationship with luka's dad have played SOME part in the (bad) decision?

we now return control of your mind to you, until next week at this time

let's start looking at players who may be available in trade (before they are lost to an expansion team).

starting with ex-kings;;

neemias queta - don't look now, but queta is the starting center for the second best team in the east.

a few weeks ago, he had A GAME, something like 27 points and 16 rebounds.

but last week, he had another against wizards - 31 minutes, 24 points 10 boards (+2 assists/2 blocks) in a win (3/14/26)

(including a "dream shake" move worthy of olajuwan)

then two nights later (3/16/26), he isn't hitting shots (2/4 5pts), but contributes 3 rebounds/6 assists and a block in 33 minutes.

for the season: 25mpg, 9.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, started 63/64 games - yet could only get into 20 games in 2 yrs w/kings - another whiteside

so, assuming he continues to improve, might we be interested in a second chance? - the celtics will have a LOT of players to protect.

then there are "fox and barnes" (always tied together).

spurs back to back games monday/tuesday:

game 1

fox only 29 minutes, 18 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds/barnes 17 minutes, 5 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds

game 2 (blowing out kings - up 30 at halftime - christie almost out of timeouts midway through 3rd quarter)

fox/barnes: 42 1/2 minutes between them (both started), totals for both (combined): 31 pts (15/16), 9 assists, 9 rebounds

but remember - it WAS the kings...

on to our other duo (ellis/schroder) w/Cavs:

ellis has moved into the starter role (mitchell plays point)/schroder playing b/u minutes)

but perhaps that was just a matchup thing (both games were b/b with dallas)

last five games: 15/27 3 pt shooting (he CAN'T keep THAT up - CAN he?

total w/cleve: 17 games (2 starts), 24mpg, a little over 40% from threes; ft shooting back to 75% (acceptable - but should be better)

schroder hasn't really found a home in cleveland, either - NEXT

18 games (2 starts) 22-23 mpg (but shrinking) 31% threes (yikes), ; 3 most recent games 5, 6, 6, apg

so, fox will be protected, the others, not so much - keep that in mind as we enter the realm of "Expansionland"
 
This might convince me to fast track my desired move up to the Seattle area, just sayin'...:p


^^ would apply to the future Sonics, too.

On that note, I just read that the taxes incurred by the Seahawks players simply spending the week (or more) in CA to play the Super Bowl ended up costing them more money than they made in winning the trophy. It did for Sam Darnold, anyway. DUMB.
 

^^ would apply to the future Sonics, too.

On that note, I just read that the taxes incurred by the Seahawks players simply spending the week (or more) in CA to play the Super Bowl ended up costing them more money than they made in winning the trophy. DUMB.

well, doug HAS experience working with a "disadvantaged" (by way of "owner") franchise - good fit for seattle.

also a good thing for the kings because

expansion means realignment - there will be four four team divisions in each conference

i believe we should be advocating for "something like" the british soccer system, grouping teams with similar budgets, talent.

so, in the west, kings drop out of pacific division and are aligned with portland, seattle and las vegas (and each plays the others SIX times annually - made up for by playing east teams not twice annually, but once annually, alternating home/road). you can call it the northwest division (although vegas IS a stretch)

the rest of the pacific stays the same, call it the "Big Money" division (Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Suns)
 

^^ would apply to the future Sonics, too.

On that note, I just read that the taxes incurred by the Seahawks players simply spending the week (or more) in CA to play the Super Bowl ended up costing them more money than they made in winning the trophy. It did for Sam Darnold, anyway. DUMB.
That would be unfortunate for Seattle sports.
But it certainly will not stop me from my desire to move up to that area, lol!!! :)
 
expansion means realignment - there will be four four team divisions in each conference

i believe we should be advocating for "something like" the british soccer system, grouping teams with similar budgets, talent.

so, in the west, kings drop out of pacific division and are aligned with portland, seattle and las vegas (and each plays the others SIX times annually - made up for by playing east teams not twice annually, but once annually, alternating home/road). you can call it the northwest division (although vegas IS a stretch)

the rest of the pacific stays the same, call it the "Big Money" division (Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Suns)
I really doubt that the NBA will make a consideration like that over a very obvious geographical grouping. With Seattle and Las Vegas being the incoming teams, the two westernmost divisions would certainly be:

W1) Seattle, Portland, Golden State, Sacramento
W2) Lakers, Clippers, Las Vegas, Phoenix

Things get a bit messy after that. I feel like the inflection point is Toronto and whether they pair more naturally with New York, or with Detroit.

If Toronto-Detroit, I think everything falls out pretty cleanly:

E1) Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia
E2) Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington (this one is a bit weird, but it's the only one possible)
E3) Indiana, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota (here Minny has to be the team to switch leagues)
E4) Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami
W3) Utah, Denver, OKC, Memphis
W4) New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas (keeping the three Texas teams together...if you swap Dallas and Memphis it probably tightens up the geography a bit but that's a tough ask for me)

However, if you pair Toronto-New York things fall out differently:

E1) Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Toronto

Is obvious but then things get difficult.

E2) Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, Detroit (again, a bit weird like E2 above)

Then E3, E4, W3, W4 are exactly the same as above.

Maybe the best Toronto-New York solution is unlikely because it involves moving THREE teams across conferences:

E2) Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta (for me, least weird E2)
E3) Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Chicago (for me, best E3)
E4) Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, Memphis
W3) OKC, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston (for me, best W3 with all three Texas teams and OKC)
W4) Utah, Denver, Minnesota, Milwaukee (this is really no worse than any other Utah+Denver division, no real great options there)

I might like that best of all, but moving three teams is tough.
 
I really doubt that the NBA will make a consideration like that over a very obvious geographical grouping. With Seattle and Las Vegas being the incoming teams, the two westernmost divisions would certainly be:

W1) Seattle, Portland, Golden State, Sacramento
W2) Lakers, Clippers, Las Vegas, Phoenix

Things get a bit messy after that. I feel like the inflection point is Toronto and whether they pair more naturally with New York, or with Detroit.

If Toronto-Detroit, I think everything falls out pretty cleanly:

E1) Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia
E2) Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington (this one is a bit weird, but it's the only one possible)
E3) Indiana, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota (here Minny has to be the team to switch leagues)
E4) Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami
W3) Utah, Denver, OKC, Memphis
W4) New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas (keeping the three Texas teams together...if you swap Dallas and Memphis it probably tightens up the geography a bit but that's a tough ask for me)

However, if you pair Toronto-New York things fall out differently:

E1) Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Toronto

Is obvious but then things get difficult.

E2) Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, Detroit (again, a bit weird like E2 above)

Then E3, E4, W3, W4 are exactly the same as above.

Maybe the best Toronto-New York solution is unlikely because it involves moving THREE teams across conferences:

E2) Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta (for me, least weird E2)
E3) Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Chicago (for me, best E3)
E4) Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, Memphis
W3) OKC, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston (for me, best W3 with all three Texas teams and OKC)
W4) Utah, Denver, Minnesota, Milwaukee (this is really no worse than any other Utah+Denver division, no real great options there)

I might like that best of all, but moving three teams is tough.

moving three teams is tough (usually) but isn't new orleans still being run BY the league?

in that case, one less owner to appease.

and yes, moving three teams is the best answer for these reasons:

historical (milwaukee entered the league as a west division team)

geographical: (milwaukee/minnesota would be a heated rivalry)

grouping by talent/budget (mil/minn belong with utah/denver)

moving memphis and new orleans east gives options

(i don't believe NO can support a team)

but

move memphis and new orleans and pair them with orlando/miami (memphis/new orleans/orlando/miami)

then, if NO is unable to perform, move that franchise to nashville (natural rival - memphis) and the other teams still fit (memphis/nashville/orlando/miami)

this is mostly geographical, but miami is the problem because it is a big market team, unlike the others

your suggestion of a true northwest division (warriors/kings/sonics/blazers) has the same problem - one big market team with three smaller market teams)

and would the warriors really want to give up THREE home games (annually) with Laker, clippers, suns? doubtful


i say, "keep the "haves" with the "haves" and the "have nots" with the other "have nots".

playing SIX in-division games (with other have nots) should somewhat equalize records (warriors will have tougher time in "their" division than kings in "theirs").
 
Looks like the initial vote happened today, with owners approving an "exploration" of adding franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas.


An executive from another team told The Athletic that their preference is expansion rather than relocation, believing the two markets, especially Seattle, will bring increased revenues over the long haul that would negate any concern about the franchise receiving 1/32 of future media rights revenue versus the current 1/30th share.

“This is definitely going forward,” the executive said.
It's not clear what the timeline is, if any, for approval of *actual* expansion.
 
Not sure why sports leagues keep pushing so hard to get teams in Vegas when the proverbial bubble has crashed out there as far as tourism is concerned (and also the whole sports gambling issue)
They see the immediate success of the Golden Knights and actually believe that the NBA can replicate that level of success in the city.
What they don't see is that the NBA likely won't be so stupid as to provide the type of expansion draft rules that the Knights had when they entered the NHL, so their team is most likely not reaching the NBA finals in year 1, and not winning it all by year 5.
 
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Knowing that one of the cities is Seattle makes me excited enough as that is #1 on my list of places I'd eventually like to move to.

Knowing that I likely won't be able to get up there in time to get in on season tickets annoys me a bit. I just hope that, when I do, the wait is not too terribly long (I do expect the wait to be long enough to extend well past my final day on Earth...I'd be shocked if the season ticket waitlist up in Seattle is less than 20-25 years by the time I get up there).
 
Knowing that one of the cities is Seattle makes me excited enough as that is #1 on my list of places I'd eventually like to move to.

Knowing that I likely won't be able to get up there in time to get in on season tickets annoys me a bit. I just hope that, when I do, the wait is not too terribly long (I do expect the wait to be long enough to extend well past my final day on Earth...I'd be shocked if the season ticket waitlist up in Seattle is less than 20-25 years by the time I get up there).
Living in the Seattle area for over 15 years now, and it's likely my forever home. A beautiful city, great place to raise a family (in the suburbs outside of Seattle). If you are a gloomy weather kind of guy (as I am... after spending too many hot summers in CA) it's perfect.

As I've stated before, if/when the sonics return to Seattle, I'm likely jumping ship on my lifelong kings fandom. Maybe not "officially", as the team will always hold a spot in my heart from my childhood, but I just can't take the incompetence anymore. We'll see... maybe the next couple years will change my mind if the miraculous happens and things turn around, but I just don't see it with this owner/GM combo.

Sports in Seattle is pretty fantastic. Fans are die-hard, and generally feels like an "us against the world" mentality similar to a small market. In recent years I've started to follow the Mariners as my AL team (lifelong Giants fan). Not totally converted to the Seahawks, but I find I lose a connection with the niners every year. Kraken games are a blast.
 
Living in the Seattle area for over 15 years now, and it's likely my forever home. A beautiful city, great place to raise a family (in the suburbs outside of Seattle). If you are a gloomy weather kind of guy (as I am... after spending too many hot summers in CA) it's perfect.

As I've stated before, if/when the sonics return to Seattle, I'm likely jumping ship on my lifelong kings fandom. Maybe not "officially", as the team will always hold a spot in my heart from my childhood, but I just can't take the incompetence anymore. We'll see... maybe the next couple years will change my mind if the miraculous happens and things turn around, but I just don't see it with this owner/GM combo.

Sports in Seattle is pretty fantastic. Fans are die-hard, and generally feels like an "us against the world" mentality similar to a small market. In recent years I've started to follow the Mariners as my AL team (lifelong Giants fan). Not totally converted to the Seahawks, but I find I lose a connection with the niners every year. Kraken games are a blast.
I will never abandon my Kings, Cowboys, Raiders, Sharks, and Giants fandom(s), but I won't feel any guilt supporting the Sonics, Seahawks, Kraken, and Mariners if/when I finally get up there.
 
Knowing that one of the cities is Seattle makes me excited enough as that is #1 on my list of places I'd eventually like to move to.

Knowing that I likely won't be able to get up there in time to get in on season tickets annoys me a bit. I just hope that, when I do, the wait is not too terribly long (I do expect the wait to be long enough to extend well past my final day on Earth...I'd be shocked if the season ticket waitlist up in Seattle is less than 20-25 years by the time I get up there).

i don't know that you have to wait to get on a season ticket list. that list might be starting today (but more likely after the vote). and if you're not ready to move up there yet, you can sell them game by game and probably MAKE money. i'm not sure you even need a "local address" but maybe taxman will let you use his if you take him to some games. or you can just buy a post office box (probably online).

as to why they are taking so long.

in the initial announcement, they specified the 28-29 season as the beginning of PLAY for expansion teams, which means two summers from this one will be the expansion draft. i recall them doing it quicker in the past, but there is a lot more money involved in the present.

still, the chatgps chatbot which (last year) was asked to predict the next 75 nba champions and had the seattle sonics winning one VERY quickly (somewhere in the mid-2030's), obviously believes in whoever their first (or maybe second or third) coach will be.

the kings (in the world of AI) WILL win a championship, but somewhere in the 2080's - WITH vivek still running things, assisted by new GM Ted Williams.
 
i don't know that you have to wait to get on a season ticket list. that list might be starting today (but more likely after the vote). and if you're not ready to move up there yet, you can sell them game by game and probably MAKE money. i'm not sure you even need a "local address" but maybe taxman will let you use his if you take him to some games. or you can just buy a post office box (probably online).

as to why they are taking so long.

in the initial announcement, they specified the 28-29 season as the beginning of PLAY for expansion teams, which means two summers from this one will be the expansion draft. i recall them doing it quicker in the past, but there is a lot more money involved in the present.

still, the chatgps chatbot which (last year) was asked to predict the next 75 nba champions and had the seattle sonics winning one VERY quickly (somewhere in the mid-2030's), obviously believes in whoever their first (or maybe second or third) coach will be.

the kings (in the world of AI) WILL win a championship, but somewhere in the 2080's - WITH vivek still running things, assisted by new GM Ted Williams.
If the intention/plan were to make the Sonics my primary team, then I'd likely look into getting on a list NOW, and not wait, but seeing that the Kings will always and forever be my number 1 (as difficult of a pill to swallow as Vivek makes it), I'm not THAT desperate to get on a season ticket waiting list for the Sonics.

the kings (in the world of AI) WILL win a championship, but somewhere in the 2080's - WITH vivek still running things, assisted by new GM Ted Williams.
Vivek lasting until at least 2080 would pretty much validate the fact that we (Kings fans) don't ever deserve the good things in life.
 
Living in the Seattle area for over 15 years now, and it's likely my forever home. A beautiful city, great place to raise a family (in the suburbs outside of Seattle). If you are a gloomy weather kind of guy (as I am... after spending too many hot summers in CA) it's perfect.

As I've stated before, if/when the sonics return to Seattle, I'm likely jumping ship on my lifelong kings fandom. Maybe not "officially", as the team will always hold a spot in my heart from my childhood, but I just can't take the incompetence anymore. We'll see... maybe the next couple years will change my mind if the miraculous happens and things turn around, but I just don't see it with this owner/GM combo.

Sports in Seattle is pretty fantastic. Fans are die-hard, and generally feels like an "us against the world" mentality similar to a small market. In recent years I've started to follow the Mariners as my AL team (lifelong Giants fan). Not totally converted to the Seahawks, but I find I lose a connection with the niners every year. Kraken games are a blast.
You say this now but the NBA will be introduced to a whole new level of meddlesome incompetent owner when Elon Musk puts down a bunch of money so he can name the Vegas franchise the Megachads or something
 
You say this now but the NBA will be introduced to a whole new level of meddlesome incompetent owner when Elon Musk puts down a bunch of money so he can name the Vegas franchise the Megachads or something
You said that with the Las Vegas Doge sitting there...
 
You said that with the Las Vegas Doge sitting there...
OK, but hear me out (same topic, different direction)

On the Athletic, Zach Harper recently proposed that they name the team the Las Vegas Sinatras, which I think really stinks as a name but is going in an interesting direction.

So taking that angle: The Vegas Rat Pack

Yes? No?
 
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