NBA expansion is inevitable.
However, there is no guarantee it’ll come anytime soon, especially after the remarks of NBA commissioner Adam Silver at the league’s recent Board of Governors meeting.
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The New Orleans Pelicans may face relocationCredit: GETTY
“We would be malpracticing if we didn’t figure out how local regional television is going to work before expanding,” commissioner Silver explained in regards to the delay of expansion.
“The notion that we would hand over a team into a city where we’re not currently operating and say, ‘You’re going to have to figure out how you’re going to distribute your games to your local fans,’ doesn’t make sense.”
However, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons has claimed that the delay in expanding is even more straightforward.
The league’s new TV rights deal, which is worth a stunning $76 billion over 11 years, has left owners unwilling to reduce a piece of their share by adding another team.
“It just seemed like a lock it was gonna happen for the last few years and I think Silver wanted it to happen. I think there was a consortium of owners that wanted it to happen,” Simmons said on his podcast.
“This media deal was so big, I just think there are owners that don’t want to give up money anymore.”
So, with the stubborn position of owners, there is one way to add a new market and increase franchise values.
That is by relocating a franchise, and for Simmons, there is one obvious team to move: the New Orleans Pelicans
“There’s some situations where there’s some franchises that maybe could move to another city and be successful. And that’s the other piece of this. And specifically New Orleans,” Simmons said.
“I don’t mean to start panic on New Orleans basketball. I’m also not sure there’s enough of a fanbase in place to even care that much. But the Smoothie King [Center] lease expires in 2029. This is an experiment that has not worked for 50-plus years in New Orleans with professional basketball.”
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Bill Simmons touted the idea of the Pelicans heading to SeattleCredit: @BillSimmons
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Seattle used to have an NBA team called the SupersonicsCredit: GETTY
The Pelicans averaged just 17,169 fans last season, which ranked 22nd in the NBA.
They have also long struggled on the court with just nine playoff appearances in 23 seasons since the franchise began play in 2002-03.
The team have won just two playoff series in that time and has never advanced past the conference semifinals.
The Pelicans’ home, the Smoothie King Center, is 25 years old and needs work.
In addition to that, the Pelicans’ lease at the arena finishes in June 2029, which provides another reason for the team to potentially relocate.
Where could the New Orleans Pelicans relocate?
For many, including Simmons, Seattle is the obvious choice for an NBA team to relocate to.
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The city used to be home to the Seattle SuperSonics before the franchise moved and was renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.
Former Pelicans forward and NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has previously supported the idea of the franchise moving to Seattle.
“I think it’s time for the Pelicans to relocate. … A city like Seattle, a city like Las Vegas is more deserving of a basketball team,” Perkins said in 2022.
The idea of the Pelicans relocating over 2,500 miles still currently feels far-fetched, and it’s one that could prove deeply controversial.
The city of New Orleans is a place of sports, with its home to the Pelicans and the NFL team, the New Orleans Saints.
It also hosts world-renowned collegiate programs such as LSU, University of New Orleans, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Tulane.
So while the Pelicans have struggled with attracting support, it’s largely due to their lack of competitiveness on the court.