The NBA is expected to begin expansion plans in earnest at some point during the 24-25 season. Sources tell ESPN that the NBA is targeting the 27-28 season for when the expansion teams will begin playing games. While starting as early as the 26-27 season hasn’t been ruled out, it is considered unrealistic to begin that quickly.
When the NBA added the Charlotte Bobcats in October 2024, the announcement came in 2002. During that round of expansion, the NBA didn’t consider other cities and was replacing a relocated team with the Hornets moving to New Orleans that year.
The NBA will need to select cities and ownership groups in what is expected to be an expensive bidding process. Another factor that could slow the process is the NBA would like to let the sale of the Boston Celtics play out to reset the market for a possible expansion fee.
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