NBA Commissioner Cools Expansion Talk

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the league will expand eventually, but that reports it’ll happen imminently are false.

Speaking on a range of topics, Silver said, “At some point, this league invariably will expand, but it’s not at this moment that we are discussing it.”

• Silver cited the potential dilution of talent among reasons to be cautious about growing the NBA.
• Previous reports indicated that the league was looking at adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.
• In late March, the Oak View Group purchased 25 acres for a $3 billion entertainment complex in Las Vegas — including a $1 billion, 20,000-seat arena.

“Those are wonderful markets,” said Silver. “We’ll be looking at it at some point, but there’s no specific timeline right now.”

Portland Possibilities

On Thursday, reports came out that Nike co-founder Phil Knight made a bid of over $2 billion to buy the Portland Trail Blazers. The team confirmed it had received the bid, but said that it was not currently for sale.

“I don’t have a sense of the precise timing, but at some point it will be for sale,” said Silver. The team is currently controlled by Jody Allen, sister of late former team owner Paul Allen and trustee to his estate.

“Portland has been a wonderful community for the NBA, and my preference would be that the team remains in Portland as part of this process,” Silver added.