The idea that a new team might emerge in the NBA is a recurring theme and we are entitled to a new rumor at the end of the day. According to insider Bill Simmons, the League might create a team in Seattle and one in Las Vegas with… LeBron James in a role of owner.
Each season, we collect a number of rumors that deal with a new NBA team. A small example last year with the takeover of Wolves and a possible move to Seattle, the new owner’s hometown. Finally, Minnesota kept its franchise and we quickly forgot all that. Nevertheless, several cities are keeping a close eye on a potential expansion plan and the NBA knows it will be spoiled for choice when it decides to expand to 31 or even 32 teams instead of 30. Among the main names that top the list: Seattle, Louisville, Montreal, Vancouver, Mexico City, Kansas City and… Las Vegas. That’s good, two of these cities might soon come to an end. According to Bill Simmonsjournalist and founder of The Ringer, Seattle and Las Vegas are the two cities most likely to recover a team in the next few years. More interestingly, the insider sees a certain… LeBron James as one of the owners. Oh good ?
“I think the League will expand to Vegas and Seattle. I think the main candidate to acquire this Vegas team is Fenway Sports Group. They’ve been circling multiple NBA teams for a while. And if I had to bet on a scenario à la LeBron, it would be that he was involved in what is happening. »
For Seattle, this is not necessarily surprising since it is an old sea serpent and Sonics fans have been calling for this return of their wishes for fifteen years now. The most interesting thing is this story of Vegas and the possibility of seeing LeBron James being part of a group of investors. The King has spoken regarding his desire to own a franchise in the past and so he might walk the talk.. It remains to be seen when this will be possible sincean NBA player cannot also have the owner’s cap. Michael Jordan had also had to sell his shares to rejoin the Wizards in 2001. Same observation for Magic Johnson with the Lakers in 1995. Finally, the League and the owners still have to give their consent for the creation of these new teams. . Still according to Simmons, the creation of these two franchises might cost between 6 and 7 billion dollars, sum which will then be shared between the thirty teams. More than 200 million dollars to integrate two newcomers, it’s an idea that might appeal to some owners.
Seattle and Las Vegas would be in pole position for an NBA expansion plan and LeBron James might pick up a new cap in the operation. Simple noise of corridor or real file in the next years? The future will tell.
Source texte : The Ringer / Bill Simmons
