The NBA is considering growth, but “nothing is predetermined,” Silver adds.

While acknowledging the potential for league expansion, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized that “nothing is predetermined.” Silver’s remarks demonstrate a cautious, methodical approach to future NBA growth plans as rumours abound about possible new cities.

Following discussions this week by the NBA’s board of governors on the subject of expansion, commissioner Adam Silver stated on Tuesday that further study would be conducted in order to continue the conversation on the possibility of adding clubs to the league.

Silver stated in his opening remarks that “a lot of analysis still needs to be done and nothing’s been predetermined one way or another, and without any specific timeline.” “We’re going to be as thorough as possible and look at all the potential issues.”

According to Silver, two current subcommittees of the league’s governors will spearhead the process: the audit and strategy committee, which focuses on financial aspects, and the advisory finance committee, which has main power over growth. During the NBA Finals last month, Silver stated that expansion “will be on the agenda to take the temperature of the room.”

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Silver stated on Tuesday that no owners had taken sides in the dispute or conducted a straw poll. The tone, he said, was one of “curiosity.”

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

While there hasn’t been any tangible progress in the discussion of awarding teams, Silver called the most recent update “a significant step.”

“We’re now engaging in this in-depth analysis, something we weren’t prepared to do before,” Silver stated. However, as I mentioned before, this is only the first day of that analysis. It’s too soon to tell how much it will cost or when it may happen. And one more, I believe that also presupposes how this analysis turns out. It’s a rather complex problem.

According to Silver, the next phases in that investigation involve examining certain markets and looking into the facilities and “appetite” in those areas. Silver also mentioned the long-term consequences of dividing leaguewide money in two more ways, specifically the league’s national TV deals, which he likened to selling stock in a company.

Silver also emphasized the uncertainties surrounding the future of local TV deals for teams and the impact completing two more rosters would have on basketball.

Before expanding, Silver stated, “We would be malpracticing if we didn’t figure out how local regional television is going to work.” The idea of sending a team to a city where we don’t currently operate and telling them, “You’ll need to figure out how you’re going to distribute your games to your local fans,” is illogical.

After the Hornets relocated to New Orleans, the NBA last acquired a team in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2004. Prior to it, from 1988 to 1995, the NBA added six franchises over a seven-year period. One possible result of expansion is the return of a team to Seattle to replace the SuperSonics, who relocated and changed their name to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. Silver described the market in Seattle as “an incredible market.”

“I wish, standing here as the commissioner, I had lots of teams to dispense to many markets who are interested in NBA basketball,” said Silver. In my opinion, we also have a bigger responsibility to grow, if we do, in a way that is strategic and beneficial to the league as a whole. That’s about as good as I can get.”

In response to a question concerning the Paul G. Allen estate’s May sale of the Portland Trail Blazers, Silver stated, “We would like the franchise stay in Portland. Over the years, we’ve had a lot of success in Portland. Notably, Silver stated that “any new ownership group coming in will have a challenge because Portland probably needs a new arena.”

One of the league’s oldest arenas without significant modifications is Moda Centre, where the Blazers have played since 1995. According to the Rose Garden Report, Moda Centre renovations are on hold while the sale is being conducted. The improvements were started with the goal of finishing before the venue hosts the NCAA Division I women’s basketball Final Four in 2030.

Silver stated that regulated sports gambling was still better than the alternative, despite a recent federal investigation into former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on claims of gambling on NBA games and prop bets.

Silver said, “I still think a legalized structure is better if my choice were legalized sports betting vs. illegal sports betting.” “Operational data is what we’re seeing in some of the investigations you’re referring to, which frequently prompts betting businesses or independent organizations who are monitoring this betting activity to raise concerns and ask, ‘What’s going on here?

“I think the issue is if you didn’t have that legalized structure, what would otherwise be going on that went undetected?”

Sportsbooks provide certain “problematic” bets, according to Silver, and the NBA wishes it had greater authority over the kinds of wagers that may be made.

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