Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7652588/2026/10/02/nba-las-vegas-expansion-timeline-bidding-update/?smid=ta-android-share&source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.FlE.85nh.EVLuhdSVrWDp

A possible NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas could debut a year later than initially expected, sources told The Athletic. There have been talks about whether a Vegas team would start play in 2029-30, a year later than the NBA originally planned, though those have been exploratory to this point.

BigOlPass | LAL

83 | 6 hours ago

It’s dumb to me to not have both teams come in at once

obri95 | PHX

9 | 6 hours ago

I guess it would make things much harder for both teams’ first draft to be at the same time. You’d argue the first one is their most important to get the franchise off to the right start

Arkrobo | OKC

4 | 6 hours ago

Ok, but now you’re certainly hamstringing whichever team joins the year after. Instead of them getting alternating picks, they pick all guys last.

Cojo840 | HOU

2 | 5 hours ago

Not that draft

Alexcox95 | MIA

10 | 6 hours ago

Yeah I don’t like uneven divisions.

theprideofvillanueva | SEA

5 | 6 hours ago

I don’t think they have the buyers for Seattle yet

BigOlPass | LAL

12 | 6 hours ago

Well yeah it seems clear to me the NBA wants to finalize the Vegas one first to get the most money out of it. Then do Seattle since it will go for less but also because if there are 3 people bidding for Vegas you might have 2 new bidders for Seattle once they lose the Vegas bid.

mikesh8rp | NYK

3 | 6 hours ago

This is undoubtedly it. Question is if one or both of the losing LV bidders only are bidding for a team in Vegas.

raptearer | IND

0 | 2 hours ago

There’s only two bids for Seattle no? And one is definetly not serious (no one is going to go to Everett for a game). The obvious bid is the one who owns Climate Pledge and the Kraken. Even if the bidders from Vegas who don’t get it move to the Seattle one, no shot they get it when Seattle’s big bid already has an arena basically ready to play

ShotgunStyles | SAC

2 | 6 hours ago

For Vegas, they basically want the new owners to build a new stadium. That will take time. I suppose they could rent out one of the existing stadiums until then.

For Seattle, there’s basically 1.5 bidders and the 1 serious bidder already has a stadium. So unlikely that Seattle will need the same runway.

Kdcjg | West

0 | 6 hours ago

One of the bidders is Vegas Knights owner Foley. He has stated that Franchise would at least start at t-mobile arena but that they would build new arena.

stevelevets

0 | 5 hours ago

It’s only the Kraken ownership group.

SharpMind94 | CLE

15 | 6 hours ago

Yea they need to push for it or you’re going have that weird season of number of games played

Interesting_Prune513 | MIA

10 | 6 hours ago

Why? There were already 82 games being played in the late 60’s with 12 teams, the number of teams has nothing to do with the number of games being played.

SharpMind94 | CLE

0 | 6 hours ago

It actually does if you’re trying to balance it out per team

I_Hate_Humidity | SAC

2 | 6 hours ago

Especially to make it easier for teams to plan their rosters in preparation of the expansion draft.

CMYGQZ | MEM

2 | 6 hours ago

My guess is Seattle would most likely also be a year later

ChaoticSenior | SEA

3 | 4 hours ago

Which is bullshit. We’ve waited long enough.

Fireryman

1 | 6 hours ago

As a NHL fan it isn’t that big of a deal.

You just want the second team to come in shortly after

Woodsy1901 | UTA

1 | 6 hours ago

That also could be part of the delay, getting Seattle sorted afterwards

SeizureMode | DET

1 | 6 hours ago

Does this mean the Seattle team gets an expansion draft, and then a year later the Vegas team gets one and can poach the Seattle players? That seems unfair if so

tangential_quip | LAL

1 | 6 hours ago

I think the take away from this is that neither team will come in in the original timeline.

DiscreteBee | TOR

34 | 6 hours ago

In the time between the NBA first talking about getting a team in Vegas and now, every other major sports league in America got a team set up there. Now they’re delaying it further. Really feel like they missed the boat on this one.

Chief_White_Halfoat | TOR

8 | 6 hours ago

I feel like the Vegas Knights have very much managed to solidify themselves with the locals and they’ve got a solid season ticket holder base and obviously being the most successful expansion franchise in history also helps.

The NBA is going to have to deal with that aspect as well. The NHL’s expansion draft structure really made it possible for them to jump in running, but the NBA is so star focused that it’s difficult to think you can do the same there. Plus there’s lottery pick aspect since usually expansion teams aren’t allowed to pick 1st.

GotMoFans | MEM

4 | 6 hours ago

The NBA/basketball has always been popular in Las Vegas. The NBA team will be fine even not being as successful on the court as the Knights have been on the ice.

I’d be worried if I were the A’s though.

DiscreteBee | TOR

3 | 5 hours ago

They’ll be fine but they’ve also squandered a ton of time on this and lost a chunk of the market in the process imo

mikesh8rp | NYK

2 | 6 hours ago

I wonder if the aprons might not make the expansion draft a little more useful as a starting point. There are some good players that are getting paid like great players who could be left unprotected, especially for teams trying to get under the cap.

Not saying they’ll be a playoff team from the jump, but I also don’t think it’s a given they’ll be terrible.

SJCitizen | PHI

5 | 6 hours ago

The arena is now 10 years old. That’s almost always the most difficult part of relocating or getting an expansion team is getting that funding figured out. The fact that it’s been there for a decade and they’re still only this far along in the process is a joke.

vaalbarag | TOR

10 | 6 hours ago

It would suck to have two expansion drafts in consecutive years. I think you’d need to give teams that have players taken in the first draft, protection in the second draft. But that means the second draft is simply not as good. A single expansion draft with two teams is so much cleaner.

GenoThyme | BOS

4 | 5 hours ago

Especially with 30 teams. Everyone loses 1 player, Vegas and Seattle have full 15 man rosters.

RelativeHand4753 | CHA

8 | 6 hours ago

It feels like just playing at T-Mobile while a new arena gets built feels like the best compromise of all options, IDK why they keep stalling.

Barnyard_Rich | DET

2 | 5 hours ago

Like pretty much all midwesterners, I’m all in favor of the Wolves moving to the east, but I wouldn’t mind at all if a little stalling led to us not having to deal with Ant while he’s still in his prime.

27Yosh | LAL

3 | 6 hours ago

To keep teams at 30, they should let the Clippers take a year off when Vegas joins

Kwilly462 | BKN

-1 | 6 hours ago

Honestly, not a bad idea lol

Vegetable_Bison_3126

1 | 6 hours ago

Bring them in separate and let each team get there year of shine. Just don’t make Sonics fans wait a year for Vegas! Vegas needs an arena so that’s why the timeline isn’t as much of a concern, as everyone is aware so ya…. NBA will get that money and get the highest team sale possible. They got the power

Smok3dSalmon | MIA

1 | 6 hours ago

I guess they’re going to give it to Bron

SquidMB | SEA

1 | 5 hours ago

If this means seattle gets delayed further i’ll be disappointed. Already sucks the discourse seems to be that they’re only planning on expanding to 31 teams

[Vorkunov] A possible NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas could debut a year later than initially expected, sources told The Athletic. There have been talks about whether a Vegas team would start play in 2029-30, a year later than the NBA originally planned.