Rumor- NBA looking to expand to 32 teams?

[StatUS]

A few things to keep in mind:

1-Any locale that is already part of an existing team's territory is a no go (San Jose and Baltimore). Existing franchises have moved into existing territories under unique circumstances. That happened in LA only because an existing franchise had nowhere else to go. It happened in NY because the Nets were already there as part of the ABA.
2-Talk of Pittsburgh, Cincy, STL, etc ignores the fact that these metros are full of other pro sports teams and the pie isn't big enough to accomodate another team. Bizjournals did a study a couple of years back. All you really need to know is that a mid-market or smaller metro with MLB and at least one other team is off the table. KC might be the only exception to the rule, but I doubt it. SEA is the minimum for an MLB+NBA+NFL team.
3-This leaves smaller markets who are the only games in town. When you look at the support the Spurs and Jazz get (even when they aren't so great), this makes a lot of sense.

The largest markets without pro sports (by metro total personal income) or territorial issues are: Columbus, Austin, VABeach-Norfolk, Vegas, Richmond, and Louisville. The first two have a huge college presence that takes away from support. VABeach-Norfolk-Newport News constantly fight over who gets the arena (and tax revenue). Vegas has the gambling issue. Unless the league looks outside of the US, Louisville makes the most sense by far. It would also resurrect a huge ABA rivalry (Pacers-Colonels). The Colonels were extremely popular and were actually doing better than a couple of the ABA teams that got in.

If there needs to be another team w/ Seattle, Louisville is the best bet.

Richmond, VA?

 

[61 Corpses]

Okay, since we all agree that Columbus should get an NBA team, let's pick some names

Columbus Family (since it is a great place to raise one)

Columbus Bath & Body Works (headquarters are in the 614)

Columbus 71's in dedication to Bone's Down 71 joint and paying homage to the C.O.'s native son Bizzy Bone

 

[BlackFeet]

fukk u know bout basketball u bytch azz nikka

Man, I fukks wit' you War Report, but dis shyt just had me dyin'.

 

[who_better_than_me]

Dc and bmore should be treated as separate territories regardless of the close proximities. The close proximities doesn't seem to effect the skins and ravens. Same thing can be said about the nationals and orioles. Bmore heads do not support college park or the wizards or any dc related squads.

 

[Rice N Beans]

Seattle
St. Louis
Las Vegas
KC
Pittsburgh

No teams in Ohio please.

 

[thatrapsfan]

Montreal

 

[Hersh]

If they do this.. they need to kill conferences and divisions and have a top 16 playoffs.

 

[BlackFeet]

Dc and bmore should be treated as separate territories regardless of the close proximities. The close proximities doesn't seem to effect the skins and ravens. Same thing can be said about the nationals and orioles. Bmore heads do not support college park or the wizards or any dc related squads.

Yea buddy, but: a) Dunno if the interest would be there. They already had a team, and lost it due to non-interest (among other things possibly, sure) and b) the league would never approve of that I feel, again, due to the Bullets, and wantin' to place them in a more empty/flexible market (i.e. an area with less, possibly no sports teams).

 

[who_better_than_me]

Yea buddy, but: a) Dunno if the interest would be there. They already had a team, and lost it due to non-interest (among other things possibly, sure) and b) the league would never approve of that I feel, again, due to the Bullets, and wantin' to place them in a more empty/flexible market.

I thought they lost the BUllets because First Mariner Arena was too small and they didnt want to built another arena.

 

[HollywoodP]

Vegas would be great but Seattle would be the team out west. So it would have to be a team out east...plus NBA wont have a team in Vegas for a long time after that ref shyt. Forget about San Diego...and just move the Clippers back (i know...never gonna happen)

A team in the Kentucky/Missouri area makes sense. All the great basketball programs in that area.

I'd vote for St Louis.

 

[StatUS]

I thought they lost the BUllets because First Mariner Arena was too small and they didnt want to built another arena.

This.

I've never heard any other reason for basketball leaving BMore except 1st Mariner was a POS.

 

[dennis roadman]

this thread is the flyover state/bum ass city roll call

 

[Formerly known as...]

Vancouver.

 

[KingJudah]

We could use another canadian team

Noone wants to play in that mahphuckin socialist cold ass nowhere and get raped by taxes foh

 

[Rob's al Ghul]

This.

I've never heard any other reason for basketball leaving BMore except 1st Mariner was a POS.

That, as well as Abe just wanting to bring a team to the city he grew up in. Once the Cap Centre broke ground, it was a wrap.