After the most recent Silver press conference, in which he once again pooh-poohed expansion as a near-term option, the operators of the Bring the NBA to Louisville Facebook page asked Miller to write a message to their followers to communicate whether expansion is still a realistic possibility.
He did so in a comment on their page. It's quite a long letter that we encourage you to read yourself, but here are some key excerpts (emphasis his):
Because I remain in constant (near daily) contact with representatives of the League, certain team management individuals and potential majority owners for a Louisville/Kentucky franchise, the Webmasters have asked me to comment on Adam Silver's comment to the effect that there are no present plans for expansion.
That is absolutely correct. The reason for it is as simple as it is understandable. The litigation surrounding Sterling and his wife regarding her putative sale of the Clippers to Mr. Ballmer is on-going. The 'disruption' this Sterling 'event' has caused to the League is monumental.
Therefore, all attention of the League offices remains on 2 items: Sterling's litigation AND continuing discussions concerning the renewal of the national television contract.
He did so in a comment on their page. It's quite a long letter that we encourage you to read yourself, but here are some key excerpts (emphasis his):
Because I remain in constant (near daily) contact with representatives of the League, certain team management individuals and potential majority owners for a Louisville/Kentucky franchise, the Webmasters have asked me to comment on Adam Silver's comment to the effect that there are no present plans for expansion.
That is absolutely correct. The reason for it is as simple as it is understandable. The litigation surrounding Sterling and his wife regarding her putative sale of the Clippers to Mr. Ballmer is on-going. The 'disruption' this Sterling 'event' has caused to the League is monumental.
Therefore, all attention of the League offices remains on 2 items: Sterling's litigation AND continuing discussions concerning the renewal of the national television contract.
As I've repeatedly said, ONCE the League gets control of the Sterling situation either by Sterling losing and the sale carrying forth OR by Sterling winning and the League (itself) moving forward as per Silver "...with our own proceedings." --- then the time will come to focus on the television rights negotiation which will also involve the potential expansion to Seattle and another city (most likely to be Louisville).
Taken by itself, one could look at this letter as unsubstantiated positive spin designed to keep the fire burning in Louisville. There is more evidence than this, though.
A league source who asked to remain anonymous has told Sonics Rising that "there's a good chance, not definitively so, but good that Seattle and another expansion city will be added to the next TV contract. The Seattle market is bigger than most think. Lot of untapped revenue we are losing out on there" (emphasis ours).
Sonics Rising also reached out to officials in Louisville but were told they had no comment at this time.
If the gentleman from Kentucky and this league insider are correct, the NBA not only wants to return to a lucrative market, whose absence is costing it significant money, but is seriously considering expansion as an alternative to do so.
Three things need to happen before this can come to fruition: Seattle must get the proposed SoDo arena to a shovel-ready condition, the situation with the Clippers must be resolved, and the new TV deal must be inked with sufficient extra revenue to warrant expansion.
Taken by itself, one could look at this letter as unsubstantiated positive spin designed to keep the fire burning in Louisville. There is more evidence than this, though.
A league source who asked to remain anonymous has told Sonics Rising that "there's a good chance, not definitively so, but good that Seattle and another expansion city will be added to the next TV contract. The Seattle market is bigger than most think. Lot of untapped revenue we are losing out on there" (emphasis ours).
Sonics Rising also reached out to officials in Louisville but were told they had no comment at this time.
If the gentleman from Kentucky and this league insider are correct, the NBA not only wants to return to a lucrative market, whose absence is costing it significant money, but is seriously considering expansion as an alternative to do so.
Three things need to happen before this can come to fruition: Seattle must get the proposed SoDo arena to a shovel-ready condition, the situation with the Clippers must be resolved, and the new TV deal must be inked with sufficient extra revenue to warrant expansion.
They're worried they'll lose corporate sponsorships to the NBA team. 
What's next an NFL team in Tuscaloosa?