Sonics On The Way? NBA Expansion Talks In Full Flow; Seattle, Las Vegas Eyed As Options - Report

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 09:41 IST

The NBA may vote on expansion this summer, with Seattle and Las Vegas as favorites to host new teams.

The NBA is edging closer to a long-awaited expansion decision, and Seattle is firmly back in the frame.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the NBA Board of Governors is expected to vote on league expansion as early as this summer. If that happens, two cities sit at the front of the line: Seattle and Las Vegas, widely viewed as favourites to become the league’s 31st and 32nd franchises.

That pairing is no surprise. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been openly discussing both markets for months. Speaking in December ahead of the NBA Cup title game, Silver confirmed the league’s interest while trying to temper expectations.

“It’s not a secret, we’re looking at this market in Las Vegas," Silver said. “We are looking at Seattle. We’ve looked at other markets as well. I want to be sensitive about the notion that we’re somehow teasing these markets, because I know we’ve been talking about it for a while."

Still, the direction of travel is clear. Silver later added that “sometime in 2026 we’ll make a determination" on expansion, a timeline that now appears to be accelerating.

“I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities," Silver said. “Obviously, we had a team in Seattle that had great success. We have a WNBA team here in Las Vegas in the Aces… I don’t have any doubt that Las Vegas… could support an NBA team."

Last summer, Silver revealed the league had taken a “significant step" toward expansion by launching an in-depth analysis of potential markets.

In June 2025, owners formally authorised league officials to explore expansion for the first time, opening the door to detailed evaluations of arenas, corporate support, and local appetite.

Money is a major factor. With NBA franchises selling for record valuations, setting the expansion fee will be one of the most delicate decisions the league faces.

For Seattle, a successful vote would bring the NBA back to the city for the first time in nearly two decades, after the SuperSonics were relocated and reborn as the Oklahoma City Thunder following the 2007–08 season.

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