Potential NBA expansion in Seattle, Las Vegas could carry staggering price tag

The NBA might be closer to expanding than most people think. 

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the league is planning to hold a vote during the Board of Governors meetings on March 24-25.

If 23 of the 30 governors say yes, the NBA will officially start exploring two expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. The vote itself is not final approval. It just gives the league permission to start taking bids.

Both teams would be aiming for the 2028–29 season if everything falls into place.

Massive ownership price tied to potential NBA expansion

However, according to Charania, the money involved is staggering. Industry executives are estimating ownership groups could pay anywhere from $7B to $10B per franchise for Seattle and Las Vegas.

"Industry executives tell me that you're looking at somewhere between $7 (billion) to $10 billion dollars per team, for Seattle and Las Vegas," Charania shared.

Right now, the upcoming vote is more of a formality, per Charania. There's already momentum among team owners to approve it because it just opens the door for the league to see what kind of bids actually come through in those two markets.