Around the NBA: Week 16 (2/2 - 2/8)

[Mori Chu]

I read that the Timberwolves make the most sense to bring east in any expansion, because (a) they have the most miles to travel to visit the other NBA teams, and (b) they have natural rivalries with several other teams in the upper midwest / Great Lakes area like the Bulls, Bucks, and Pacers. I think in most other sports (e.g. NFL), the Minnesota team is in the same division as teams from those cities.

[Kryptonic]

2 more teams in the west? How would that work? Send one existing team to the east?

Most likely. Wouldn't be the first time. Which current West team is most East?

Timberwolves or Pelicans?

Pelicans or Grizzlies, with Memphis further east by a hair

Send Milwaukee east

You mean to China?

Euroleague

[The Bobster]

Memphis is further east than Minneapolis.

And apparently Seattle and Las Vegas as the expansion teams are a foregone conclusion? I've always thought Louisville would be a good candidate - they drew well in the ABA, Kentucky is a good basketball state, the KFC Yum Center seats about 23,000 for basketball and there's plenty of large companies operating there - UPS, Ford and Yum! Brands.

[Mori Chu]

Memphis may be farther east, but I read that Minneapolis has the most travel miles to visit all the 29 other NBA teams, and would reduce its travel the most by being in the Eastern conference. Either one would make sense to me.

[Split T]

Minnesota isn’t close to anyone in the west, they are much closer to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit.

Memphis may be further east, but they are still somewhat close to Houston, New Orleans, and OKC at least.

I’m kind of out on expansion though. I’d rather just move New Orleans to Seattle and maybe Sacramento to Vegas

[Superbone]

Minnesota isn’t close to anyone in the west, they are much closer to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit.

Memphis may be further east, but they are still somewhat close to Houston, New Orleans, and OKC at least.

I’m kind of out on expansion though. I’d rather just move New Orleans to Seattle and maybe Sacramento to Vegas

Well, that's too bad. It's happening. And you are a cruel man. You'd do that to Pelicans and Kings fans?

[Split T]

Minnesota isn’t close to anyone in the west, they are much closer to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit.

Memphis may be further east, but they are still somewhat close to Houston, New Orleans, and OKC at least.

I’m kind of out on expansion though. I’d rather just move New Orleans to Seattle and maybe Sacramento to Vegas

Well, that's too bad. It's happening. And you are a cruel man. You'd do that to Pelicans and Kings fans?

A discussion and/or vote is happening…and yes it does sound like it will eventually, but nothing has been decided.

And those teams have failed in those markets. I think it’s fine to accept that and move to a market that will succeed. It sucks for the fans, but it sucks now for the nba fans in Vegas and Seattle too that don’t get a team.

[Shabazz]

Sacramento has failed because of horrific ownership and management, not market. The may lack the local corporate revenue that other markets have but that fan base has “overperformed,” IMO.

[Shabazz]

I do think there’s enough talent across the NBA to support expansion. The depth of quality players since the NBA went to 30 teams is so much better than it used to be.

[Split T]

I did say maybe for Sacramento…I agree the fans have been good there…they deserve a better ownership group. New Orleans has been a failure in just about everything.

I think tanking needs to be solved before expansion.