The NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to hold a pivotal vote between March 24 and March 25 on expanding the league to 32 franchises by welcoming new teams in Las Vegas and Seattle by the 2028-29 season, according to reports from league-focused media. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat have officially formalized the addition of center Nick Richards, while the National Basketball Players Association has raised formal concerns regarding the league’s strict second apron rules under the collective bargaining agreement.
March Vote Sets Stage for Las Vegas and Seattle Expansion
League owners are preparing for a concrete vote at the end of March that could formally launch the exploratory phase for two brand-new franchises. If approved, the league will begin accepting formal ownership investment proposals for the two new markets, with individual franchise valuation estimates ranging between $7 and $10 billion.
A second decisive vote is anticipated later in the year to grant final ratification, which requires approval from at least 23 of the 30 current governors. The league’s roadmap targets the 2028-29 campaign for the official tip-off of both expansion teams.
Geographic Shifts: Who Moves to the Eastern Conference?
Adding franchises in the Pacific Northwest and Nevada introduces immediate logistical questions regarding conference alignment. Because both Seattle and Las Vegas sit on the western side of North America, the current 15-team balance in each conference will require adjustments. Geographic mapping suggests that the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies are the primary candidates to migrate from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference once the expansion takes effect.
The league evaluated other international possibilities in prior years, including Montreal and Mexico City, but ultimately focused strictly on the United States markets. Seattle has remained without an NBA club since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, maintaining a passionate sports base that already supports the NHL’s Seattle Kraken at the Climate Pledge Arena and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. Las Vegas, meanwhile, has steadily embedded itself into the basketball ecosystem through the annual Summer League, select All-Star events, and the NBA Cup Final Four, alongside the championship-winning WNBA franchise, the Las Vegas Aces.
Miami Formalizes Nick Richards Addition
Away from expansion headlines, roster management continues across the league as the Miami Heat officially announced the signing of center Nick Richards.
Front offices across the association continue to monitor financial flexibility tightly, constrained by the mechanisms of the current collective bargaining agreement. The National Basketball Players Association recently voiced sharp criticisms aimed directly at the second apron restrictions, arguing that the severe financial and roster-building penalties hinder normal team operations and player movement.
Next Confirmed Checkpoint
The immediate milestone for the league’s expansion plans arrives on March 24 and 25, when the Board of Governors convenes to cast votes on the Las Vegas and Seattle proposals.
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