Bets on an NBA expansion team in Seattle are “significantly lower” than those placed on a team in Las Vegas, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorstwhich suggests that commissioner Adam Silver is doing everything it can to leverage and increase those Seattle offers.
As Windhorst explains, while it may be true that the NBA is focused on figuring out his plan for Vegas before moving to Seattle, leaks suggesting the league is open to one expansion team instead of two — along with rumors that the losing bidders in Vegas might shift their focus to Seattle — are a means of putting pressure on two promising ownership groups currently with the team in Seattle.
According to Windhorst, Silver also told team owners at a Board of Governors meeting last month that at least one Mexico City-based group had approached PJT Partners — the NBA’s expansion partner — about building a team and building a new arena district in the city. The plan is believed to have intrigued the league, sources told Windhorst, though he acknowledges that the Mexico City buzz could be a “harassment” to push Seattle’s bidders to be more aggressive.
Windhorst still expects Seattle to land an expansion team, noting that many ownership groups around the NBA are counting on the expansion fees that would come with two new franchises. However, he cautions that there is still work to be done to bring SuperSonics back to reality.
Here’s more from Windhorst:
- As part of the exploration of Nix‘ potential ways forward with Karl-Anthony TownsWindhorst suggests that Warriors, Clippersand Hawks are among the teams “likely to make big offers” to the All-Star center if he opts out of his 2027/28 player option to become a free agent next summer. Even though the Knicks expansion talks are on hold with Towns, Windhorst does expect both sides to eventually work something out.
- Rival executives wonder if there will be a cap with a belt magic would consider trading the fourth year guard Anthony Black unless they agree to the terms of the rookie scale extension by the October 19 deadline. According to Windhorst, Brandin undergroundfive-year, $110 million expansion with Golden State somewhat formalizing Black’s negotiations, especially considering the two players are represented by the same agent (Bill Duffy). But Orlando didn’t want to go up to $22 million a year for Black.
- One Eastern Conference leader who spoke with Windhorst about magicThe situation does not count on Black moving during the season. “I don’t think they’re going to trade him now, even if they don’t make a deal.” an executive told ESPN. “They’re under pressure to win this season because of that salary and they need him because of that (Jalen) Suggs“injury problems”.
