In a recent post on X, veteran point guard Isaiah Thomas proposed a new format for the NBA. Besides two new expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, I.T. suggested moving the Grizzlies and Pelicans to the Eastern Conference.
“Bring Sonics back, add Vegas,” wrote Thomas. “Move Memphis and New Orleans to Eastern Conference!”
The 35-year-old veteran has played for 12 years in the NBA and has played for various teams including the Kings, Suns, Cavaliers, Lakers, Nuggets, Wizards, Pelicans, and Mavericks. He’s most known for his time with the Celtics, where he averaged 24.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 44% shooting.
Thomas’ comments on expansion teams generated a lot of responses from the community including one fan who suggested moving the Clippers to Buffalo. He wasn’t a fan of that idea.
LOL
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) July 5, 2024
The NBA hasn’t added a new NBA team since the Hornets in 1988 and a team hasn’t changed cities since the Thunder moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008. But with the NBA growing in popularity around the world, and a new media rights deal expected to rake in huge amounts of money, talk of more expansion teams has been picking up steam.
Out of all the potential expansion cities, Seattle has been the one that most fans have advocated for. As the former home of the SuperSonics, Seattle is one of the most populous and well-known cities in the Pacific Northwest and they already have an established fanbase due to the NBA’s former presence there.
With legends like Kevin Durant, Gary Payton, Ray Allen, and others, the Sonics have become a somewhat legendary franchise and fans would love to see them return to the fold as a new team in the West.
Of course, Las Vegas is the next in line to host an NBA franchise. The city remains a popular spot among tourists for its lavish attractions and fancy casinos. It’s also been a growing hotbed of sports activity lately, with teams like the Golden Knights, Raiders, and Aces all having recently established a presence there.
It’s no secret that LeBron James himself has an interest in owning a Las Vegas franchise and for that reason alone it might be the most likely expansion team of them all. With the proper resources, the team could prove to be the next great attraction for NBA stars.
Isaiah Thomas, like others, seems to realize that expansion teams will likely require moving a West team to the East and there are multiple teams that make sense for this.
Thomas mentioned the Grizzlies and the Pelicans already and they could both qualify given their relative proximity to teams like the Hornets, Hawks, and Indiana Pacers. The Timberwolves would also be a candidate given that they could easily be added to the Central Division.
We still have a few years left before NBA expansion teams become official but it’s a given that the league will grow and expand into new territory and there are so many great cities that could qualify for their own team.
It remains to be seen which ones will be chosen by the league but they really can’t go wrong with any of the locations given the potential for success and the NBA’s steadily growing audience of millions.
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