NBA Expansion Scenario

[SilverSpur]

With the salary cap going up in the next three years should the NBA consider expansion somtime soon.
If the NBA did expand I would see them expanding to six cities*. Two or three would have to go back to former cities.
What other cities would you consider? Columbus, Birmingham,Montreal,
Kansas City, Nashville, Jacksonville?
What do you think?

Northwest division

Seattle *
Portland
Utah.
Denver.
Minnesota.
Vancouver*

Pacific division.

Golden State.
Sacramento.
LA Lakers.
LA Clippers
Anaheim *
San Diego* or Las Vegas*

Southwest division

Dallas.
Houston
San Antonio.
New Orleans
Phoenix.
Oklahoma City.

Northeast division

Boston
Brooklyn
New York
Philadelphia
Toronto
Washington

Central division

Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Indiana
Milwalkee
Pittsburgh* or Cincinatti*

Southeast division

Atlanta
Charlotte
Miami
Memphis
Orlando
St Louis*

[ChumpDumper]

That's way too ambitious.

In the unlikely event they even consider expansion, it would be two teams tops. Seattle would be an obvious choice if they built an arena but no other market is super attractive.

[boutons_deux]

There already too many teams, with too little coaching/playing/front-office talent. 20 of 30 teams are uncompetitive, but "it's a business".

[sasaint]

That's way too ambitious.

In the unlikely event they even consider expansion, it would be two teams tops. Seattle would be an obvious choice if they built an arena but no other market is super attractive.

"Unlikely" is right. Not long ago some people suggested the league should actually contract - not just for financial but also competitive reasons. Undoubtedly Seattle will get a team at some point - either via relocation (likely) or expansion (less likely). It seems only fans who disregard the finances of the less profitable teams and the abysmal records of the less competitive teams want the NBA to expand to mirror the NFL. If the NBA wants 32 teams then Seattle will be number 31. If the Rams leave St. Louis, then the NBA might feel like a return to St. Louis could be profitable. Las Vegas might be inching closer with gambling becoming less of an anathema to pro sports.

[Biggems]

With the success of Kentucky and Louisville, I am surprised that there hasn't been any NBA interest in the region.....even in a city close, like Cincinnati.

I am also surprised that St. Louis doesn't have a team, but with the deal the Spirit did, I am sure the NBA has stayed away on purpose. I am surprised that KC couldn't support a team, but Sacramento can. Seattle supported their team, but the owners wanted a new arena. They had tons of money, I am surprised that the owners couldn't find a way to get that arena built. As for Vegas, I would have no problem with a team there, but I don't know if the league would be comfortable with it. I can see a ton of problems with having a bunch of young millionaires running around the streets of Vegas when they come in for a road game.

Seattle is a given as a new franchise. After that, I would go after Cincinnati or KC/St. Louis, then Las Vegas.

[SuperCam]

League's already watered down enough. if anything they should be contracting franchises so there's more starpower on each team.

[Spurtacular]

League needs to contract, tbh.

[cjw]

As others have said, it's two teams max. Seattle and one other (Vegas, Vancouver again, second team in Chicago, etc.). Would give excuse to either eliminate divisions or go 4x4x2. You cannot dilute the product on the court anymore than it already is.

Unlikely to be a team in a college town. Money there is already spent on college sports and many big college towns either (1) lack big business to drive suite sales or (2) are already in close proximity to an NBA team.

[Darius Bieber]

Screw that Southwest division though.

[BD24]

That's way too ambitious.

In the unlikely event they even consider expansion, it would be two teams tops. Seattle would be an obvious choice if they built an arena but no other market is super attractive.
This. Most of the cities you mentioned are jokes to get a team. Seattle would work and maybe Pit. Vancouver has already failed. Anaheim and San Diego are too close to LA/SAC town. Not enough fans in the area for one more team let alone two. A pro team in Vegas won't happen. Cincinatti can barely support their current teams let alone adding more. I used to live near STL and all they give a shit about is the Cardinals.

[Proxy]

pipe dream is less teams, less games, more neutral global arenas hosting big regular season matchups

[DeRozan m8]

I say let's not water down the league and the East any further tbh

[baseline bum]

This. Most of the cities you mentioned are jokes to get a team. Seattle would work and maybe Pit. Vancouver has already failed. Anaheim and San Diego are too close to LA/SAC town. Not enough fans in the area for one more team let alone two. A pro team in Vegas won't happen. Cincinatti can barely support their current teams let alone adding more. I used to live near STL and all they give a shit about is the Cardinals.

I don't think you can quite consider LA and Anaheim the same markets. They're close as the crow flies, but if you measure the distance between them by drive time to catch a 7:30 game it might as well be San Antonio to Houston. I'm serious, when I lived in LA sometimes I'd go to Angels games and the drive could be three hours, no exaggeration whatsoever. And frankly, I'd rather do the San Antonio to Houston drive than the LA to Anaheim rush hour drive since you wouldn't be doing tons of stopping and starting at 2 mph.

[BD24]

I don't think you can quite consider LA and Anaheim the same markets. They're close as the crow flies, but if you measure the distance between them by drive time to catch a 7:30 game it might as well be San Antonio to Houston. I'm serious, when I lived in LA sometimes I'd go to Angels games and the drive could be three hours, no exaggeration whatsoever. And frankly, I'd rather do the San Antonio to Houston drive than the LA to Anaheim rush hour drive since you wouldn't be doing tons of stopping and starting at 2 mph.
Maybe so, but their is only so many fans in California to go around. I just don't see Anaheim being able to support another pro sports team. Especially with Cali already having 4 pro teams. Two of them being in LA.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

You should have posted "California Division" instead of "Pacific Division", tbh...

[Wu36]

This. Most of the cities you mentioned are jokes to get a team. Seattle would work and maybe Pit. Vancouver has already failed. Anaheim and San Diego are too close to LA/SAC town. Not enough fans in the area for one more team let alone two. A pro team in Vegas won't happen. Cincinatti can barely support their current teams let alone adding more. I used to live near STL and all they give a shit about is the Cardinals.
I really doubt Kings fans are gonna drive like 10 hrs to San Diego or Anaheim. Cali fans do front run. They can support another team. SoCal has the population to support another team and profit. Should they? No.

[BD24]

I really doubt Kings fans are gonna drive like 10 hrs to San Diego or Anaheim. Cali fans do front run. They can support another team. SoCal has the population to support another team and profit. Should they? No.
As you said, they are frontrunners. An expansion team is likely going to be very bad. California won't support a bad team, especially when there is two very good teams in state at the moment.

The city of Anaheim itself it not big enough to support another pro team imo anyway.

[Wu36]

I don't think they should. But I think the money is there. They have 5 MLB teams. Lakers still make money and suck. Clippers all the sudden have fans. If it's about money and not quality of the game, then yes they can support another team there. More so than some of the cities mentioned in other states. Sad thing is they'd claim a Vegas team also if their team was sucking.

[ElNono]

I don't know about expansion. I do think Seattle and Vegas are probably two markets where you could move economically underperforming teams to.

[Wu36]

I think Vegas is a good honorary NBA city. With summer league, team USA friendly games, and maybe some more all star games. But I think Vegas has too many other things to do. So a struggling team would fail there. I lived there for 13 years. I think they are a good show with the NBAish events they have. Full time team not so much.

[BD24]

I don't think they should. But I think the money is there. They have 5 MLB teams. Lakers still make money and suck. Clippers all the sudden have fans. If it's about money and not quality of the game, then yes they can support another team there. More so than some of the cities mentioned in other states. Sad thing is they'd claim a Vegas team also if their team was sucking.
Anaheim is only like 340k people though. You really think they can support a third pro team? I just don't see it. Maybe I am wrong, but we will honestly probably never know.
I don't see LVille as a bad city to move a team, good sized city and Kentucky is crazy about basketball. Having some former Kentucky/Lville players on a pro team would go a long way towards drawing attendance tbh.

[Wu36]

No Anhahiem is too close. I think most would from that area would agree. San Diego would work though. They have other pro teams to prove it. Using the collage town thing could work against the league just as well as having a pro team. Simple fact is there aren't enough star power in the league to expand when all the stars contract to a few teams. It's fun to say who could support a team. But how many teams actually please their fans?

[bobby4germany]

An expansion is not going to happen however if it were to happen it would be nice to see something overseas - London or Berlin maybe.

[Wu36]

It would. But travel/ time zones would suck. The league has already used travel as a playoff issue against a 1-16 seeding vs the current east-west set up.

[bobby4germany]

Obviously it would never happen but I find it funny that they call it "world" champions even though it is only the U.S. and Canada with teams. Travel would be a nightmare to figure out but I think the competition would actually improve.

[LarryDavid]

Get rid of OKC, Orlando, Charlotte, and Minnesota.

Add a team in Seattle and another town (Vegas, KC, Cincinnati?).

[spursistan]

Get rid of OKC, Orlando, Charlotte, and Minnesota.

Add a team in Seattle and another town (Vegas, KC, Cincinnati?).
Agree..League really needs to contract; just too many non-descript teams in middling/shitty cities ..It is been clear for a while that Miami is Florida's team..NC (Charlotte) will forever be college BBall..Minnesota is just plain shitty with zero history other thanthe one attached to current Lakers..OKC will be a tumbleweed domain in a year or two with high possibilty Westbrook/Durant bolting..

[Seventyniner]

I disagree with the whole idea that expansion would water down the league too much. The league was adding teams in the "golden eras" of the 80s and 90s. Michael Jordan was regularly beating up on expansion teams and people loved it.

There is also more basketball talent in the world than there has ever been in the past. You now have kids all over the world who grew up watching and idolizing guys like Duncan, Kobe, LeBron and use those players as inspiration. Basketball's worldwide infrastructure is also better than ever.

I could see an argument that there are enough talented players to have more teams, but not enough good front offices and coaching staffs.


Expanding to 32 teams is perfect. It makes a balanced rotating schedule possible, similar to the NFL. 8 divisions of 4, 4 games per year against your division, and either 2 or 3 against the rest of the league to make 82 total. An in-season tournament or two is easier too. One 32-team bracket where losers keep playing, every team plays 5 games.

[dweaver99027]

2 more franchises is doable. Seattle is one, and then an Eastern team. KC? St. Louis?

[BD24]

2 more franchises is doable. Seattle is one, and then an Eastern team. KC? St. Louis?
I personally like Lville as a second city. Kentucky is crazy about basketball and Lville doesn't have a pro team yet, therefore the whole city would be backing them. Kind of similar to OKC having a team. The Thunder have done very well there, given part of that has to do with the product on the court.

[TXstbobcat]

Seattle should get a team if they build a new arena.

[dweaver99027]

Didn't really work that well for the Hornets/Bobcats/Hornets market-wise, although they are viable franchises. College-dominated states are a toss up. Product on the court can make anywhere viable though, I agree.

[Mr. Body]

The problem is a lack of talent coming in as true stars.

[Aztecfan03]

Wtf? you think So Cal could handle LA*2 +Anaheim+San Diego? la*2 + anaheim is still way too much for such a small area.

[mookie2001]

Wtf is Birmingham like england?

[Aztecfan03]

This. Most of the cities you mentioned are jokes to get a team. Seattle would work and maybe Pit. Vancouver has already failed. Anaheim and San Diego are too close to LA/SAC town. Not enough fans in the area for one more team let alone two. A pro team in Vegas won't happen. Cincinatti can barely support their current teams let alone adding more. I used to live near STL and all they give a shit about is the Cardinals.

Sacramento is north of San francisco and about 500 miles from san diego. On the east coast. Boston, New York, New Jersey, philadelphia, D.C. are well within that distance.

Anaheim is definitely too close to the 2 LA teams. San Diego could be doable but not likely.

[BD24]

Sacramento is north of San francisco and about 500 miles from san diego. On the east coast. Boston, New York, New Jersey, philadelphia, D.C. are well within that distance.

Anaheim is definitely too close to the 2 LA teams. San Diego could be doable but not likely.
More or less meant there is already too many teams their for the state to support another one imo. Especially a team that will most likely be bad.

[Aztecfan03]

More or less meant there is already too many teams their for the state to support another one imo. Especially a team that will most likely be bad.
There could be 0 teams north of LA and Anaheim would still be a horrible idea. SF and SAC do not matter at all. Phoenix is closer than them.

[benefactor]

League needs to contract, tbh.

[BD24]

There could be 0 teams north of LA and Anaheim would still be a horrible idea. SF and SAC do not matter at all. Phoenix is closer than them.
You don't think their is frontrunners in the southern part of the state repping GS right now just because they are a Cali team? Don't be delusional.

[Das Texan]

With the success of Kentucky and Louisville, I am surprised that there hasn't been any NBA interest in the region.....even in a city close, like Cincinnati.

I am also surprised that St. Louis doesn't have a team, but with the deal the Spirit did, I am sure the NBA has stayed away on purpose. I am surprised that KC couldn't support a team, but Sacramento can. Seattle supported their team, but the owners wanted a new arena. They had tons of money, I am surprised that the owners couldn't find a way to get that arena built. As for Vegas, I would have no problem with a team there, but I don't know if the league would be comfortable with it. I can see a ton of problems with having a bunch of young millionaires running around the streets of Vegas when they come in for a road game.

Seattle is a given as a new franchise. After that, I would go after Cincinnati or KC/St. Louis, then Las Vegas.

NBA would at best be #3 in St Louis, even if the Rams left town. They would have virtually no chance of passing the Blues within 20 years unless they won multiple titles then maybe. They would have zero chance ever being #1.

[Aztecfan03]

You don't think their is frontrunners in the southern part of the state repping GS right now just because they are a Cali team? Don't be delusional.
not really. Especially not by buying tickets and probably not merchandise either.

[Mamuza94]

Nobody says anything about Euro teams. This idea runs for years and it's likely that at some point (By 2020. in my opinion) will happen. From my point of view, that will destroy European basketball and i don't like it at all. But for NBA... may be interesting, good...

[Das Texan]

Nobody says anything about Euro teams. This idea runs for years and it's likely that at some point (By 2020. in my opinion) will happen. From my point of view, that will destroy European basketball and i don't like it at all. But for NBA... may be interesting, good...

its not really logistically feasible. no matter what some would want to believe.

[Mamuza94]

Look, there are plenty of obstacles that should be skipped. But Adam Silver's idea is some European division in NBA for 10-20 years (so much for the above-mentioned my opinion).

This is the story (http://www.rts.rs/page/sport/sr/story/37/Ko%C5%A1arka/1846406/Evropska+NBA+divizija+%E2%80%93+utopija+ili+realno st%3F.html) of one of the major Serbian media.

European Basketball Division - utopia or reality?

The best basketball in the world is played in the United States and it is an axiom. However, in Europe the game under the hoop is liked and succeeding quite well. What shyly tries like the idea of the past few years is the intention that the NBA gets its division in Europe. Is it and how realistic? On these and other questions will offer answers and his opinion on this subject was made by Igor Rakocevic and Misko Raznatovic.

http://www.rts.rs/upload/storyBoxImageData/2015/03/03/18362594/Silver%201.jpg
Planning of"expansion" of the NBA to Europe: Commissioner Adam Silver

It must be recognized, first of all, that the idea sounds interesting and tempting. Ultimately, the leadership of the NBA, led by the new Commissioner Adam Silver, the more I do not hide the fact that this is the goal for the next 10-20 years ...

Last Silver mentioned it in mid-January in London, where the "O2 Arena" power dosed Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, in the framework of the NBA "gejms Global" (Global games). This is one of the ways that European audiences closer to NBA basketball.

That it is not about the idea of ​​a skorojevićevskoj show historical data, that is, NBA back in 1978, decided to "out" 'outside the United States. Specifically, it is in Tel Aviv played the first match between the NBA and European teams. The forces are dosed Maccabi and Washington Buletsi a celebrated "pride of Israel" with 98:97.

Since then he has played 76 games in 20 different countries and 43 cities worldwide. NBA teams celebrated 64 times and 12 times suffered defeat.

That this type of promotion is not just about meeting against "the lack of the world" and confirm the match of the regular NBA season this side of the pond (now 7 official duels).

However, all this is primarily a promotional character. On a much larger challenge and a serious task NBA's project of establishing a Euro-divisions. The obstacles are many and in this article I will deal with what most, with some offering possible models of functioning.

The selection of teams and infrastructure

First of all, the question that European teams participated in that division and how many members it would have counted?

Bearing in mind the history, but the current strength, it is impossible to imagine such a league without the Spanish giants (Real Madrid and Barcelona), the Athenian fierce rivals (Olympiacos and Panathinaikos), CSKA Moscow, at least one or two Turkish club (Efes / Fenerbahce / Galatasaray) and already said Maccabi Tel Aviv. There is already 7-8 clubs, enough for one division.

However, because of the attractiveness, the economic and political influence of place in such a division would expect Italians (say Milan), Paris, Berlin and London mandatory. The three European capitals may only they had not had problems with venues (the renovated "Bercy", and two very representative "O2" facility).

http://www.rts.rs/upload/storyBoxImageData/2015/03/03/18362599/Alba%20San%20Antonio.jpg

Detail from the summer's match between Alba and San Antonio in Berlin

Just make the infrastructure could be a problem, given that apart from the three halls, with perhaps even Tel Aviv and Madrid, where few in Europe can find an adequate facility according to strict NBA standards.

Also, each of the teams in Europe would have to have his own plane or at least a strong airline sponsors, in order to efficiently organize their distant travel "across the pond". But it will cost. A lot.

If however prevailed this economic infrastructure model, some of the above trophy European clubs would popularly told "whipped".

There is, however, an opinion that in such a project could become only the cities and states that have a strong and financially powerful football clubs.

And according to this version, Real and Barca make sure and next to them there could be Munich (Bayern Munich), London (Arsenal), Paris (PSG), Milan (Inter or Milan).

So the options are the various ...

TV rights, the terms of transfer and time zones

Co-optation European division in the NBA wagon would open the issue of TV rights and television broadcasts of matches.

While concluding Contract he owner of the TV rights (ESPN / TNT), with European media companies likely would not pose major and unsolvable problem, what would surely, are the terms of playing matches.

http://www.rts.rs/upload/storyBoxImageData/2015/03/03/18373100/NBA%20tv.jpg
Will Chuck and Shaq going to comment European basketball?

The US has four time zones and "basketball Europe" three. This means that central European time America "lagging behind" six (New York), seven, eight and nine o'clock (west coast).

All fans of NBA basketball knows how difficult it is to harmonize watching match of the playoffs and work the next day morning. For such a feat sleep you need to be reduced to only two or three hours.

Similar problem indeed smaller, we'd still have the Americans, who make their pets on its eventual tour of Europe watched in the morning or early afternoon periods. (Eg, if the Warriors hosted in Madrid of 21.00, fans from Oakland and San Francisco to watch the match at the time, "brunch" - 12 hours.

More drastic would be like if, say, LA Lakers hosted in Moscow at 20:00 local time, "Lakers" in the city of Angels watched the match at the start of working hours - at 09:00 in the morning. You have to admit, not exactly the happiest appointment for TV transmission ...

Of course, care must be taken from the very players who transoceanic journeys changed several time zones, which would definitely affect their freshness and therefore the parties in court. Of course, all this could cause worse results teams.

Although, maybe he just that moment brought in left-needed uncertainty and increase chances of European team against the powerful NBA franchise ...

Labour legislation

A very important issue is the harmonization of European and American legislation, or finding the modalities by which the levied tax, charged on player salaries and wages distributed among teams. Also, the question is whether the NBA players union signed up and European counterparts.



http://www.rts.rs/upload/storyBoxImageData/2015/03/03/18373202/NBA%20Evropa%20mapa.jpg
Looks interesting

The sense of national league and European Cups

Of course, the departure of the best European teams in the NBA, there is the question of the meaning of national and European competitions, especially what basketball fans will be deprived of watching the best ones.

Euroleague in its current form would probably not exist, and without the Spanish League Real Madrid and Barca or Greek without PAO and Olympiakos would have no meaning and would not be attractive to a wider audience if they missed the most powerful.

If we turn the Euro-NBA teams continued to compete in national competitions, the problem of the competition calendar and the system of competition. This primarily refers to the system of the newly formed division, and domestic leagues.

It would not be realistic to play clubs and the NBA, and on the domestic front. On the other hand, would not be fair nor unfair competition to be involved in the later stages of championships. So, a win-win situation here does not exist.

During the research of this topic, a friend showed me an interesting idea that could be a first step towards integrating European teams and the NBA.

It means that European Champion gaining a place in the NBA playoffs. The idea is interesting, and you could be the first step towards the final goal, but the question of how huge and effective.

In fact, this year the Final Four of the Euroleague game of the 15th to the 17th of May, while the NBA playoffs begin April 18th. The difference of one month between the two is not insurmountable beginning, but here again the question to the European champion finished the league but whose place went to the NBA playoffs (East or West).

"It is possible, but it is too early"

And what on this topic have to say those who enjoy basketball is life's calling - one respondent had a great and lasting impression on the European parquet flooring and played in those in the NBA, while the other handset successful in business around the grounds, as manager of many but European and NBA players.

His opinion on this idea, in response to the same five questions, presented legendary Igor Rakocevic, a former Red Star player, Real Madrid, but Laboral and Minnesota Timberwolves and now vice president of the KSF, the mighty Mike Raznatovic, one of the best if not the most successful basketball manager in Europe, the owner of the agency "Beobasket".

http://www.rts.rs/upload/storyBoxImageData/2015/03/03/18362608/Rakocevic.jpg
Reputable in Europe and experienced by playing in the NBA: The legendary Igor Rakocevic

1. What is your comment on the announcement Adam Silver to NBA thinking about expanding to Europe in the (near) future?

Igor Rakocevic - "This option is in any case very attractive and interesting. I think though that this is still many years away from realization. In any case it would have fundamentally changed the European basketball. Would you like to improve the popularity of basketball in Europe - safe" .
Misko Raznatovic - "This idea a long time ago, but I think it will take a lot of time to realization. Euroleague while moving to this end has announced the closure of the Euroleague and the pyramid principle, but after great opposition to the national federations and FIBA ​​gave up on it. So, This first step, which is necessary in order for this to happen did not happen, and it will take a lot of time until that is done. "

2. Do you think this is realistic?

IR - "I think it is realistic because sport should be global, and will eventually be. It would not be bad if, for example, we look at LeBron James in Belgrade one day."
MR - "I am convinced that this will happen. I truly believe that one day will come back under the elytra Euroleague FIBA, and will then together FIBA ​​and the NBA work in that direction. I think that the economic situation in the Euroleague is unsustainable, and that clubs and the League must seek a solution for this, and the right solution for the biggest clubs will be participating in such a league, participating sponsors and from America. But I think this is the distant future. "

3. If this idea is true, what are the European centers (cities) or who have teams that played in the so-called. European 'conference? Here the respondents completely agree.

IR - "In the case of realization of this idea, given the American type of thinking (profit), the centers would be Madrid, London, Berlin, Paris. And then the other ..."
MR - "These are cities where basketball is now playing at the highest level (Moscow, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Tel Aviv, Athens author's note) with Berlin, Munich, Paris and London certainly, as a newbies."

http://www.rts.rs/upload/storyBoxImageData/2015/03/03/18362620/Raznatovic.jpg
One of the biggest basketball managers in Europe: Misko Raznatovic

4. What is in your opinion the difference between European and NBA basketball? Will it decrease or increase? Igor and Mike have a completely different opinion ...

IR - "I think every year is approaching European Basketball NBA. These are all important physical abilities of players, slow and weak longer have seats in basketball. With the change of certain rules such as 'defensive three seconds' European basketball would be raised to a higher level and approached by the style of the NBA. "
MR - "The difference will be increased because of the large outflow of the best players from Europe to the NBA, Euroleague, which is becoming weaker and weaker every year."

5. How do you see the role of Serbian basketball player in the NBA over the next 10-15 years? In whom you trust the most that it can do "something big"?

IR - "Serbia is a hotbed of talent. I will certainly appear some new kids who will in 10 years be the 'main' and have the opportunity to play in the NBA. I'm not worried for our future."
MR - "I think it will have a significant role, and I would expect that in a subsequent period Marjanovic, Bjelica and Bogdanovic able to play in the league, but the big question is whether they have the capacity to leave a significant mark."

In the official letter and requested opinion NBA did not respond, so we were denied their views on the project. However, the idea of Euro division in the NBA is alive, but on the road to its implementation in practice there are many obstacles. We'll see if the overriding ...

[Strategic]

KC & St. Louis are football cities in the winter. NBA would always be insignificant little brother there. Move Memphis and New Orleans eastern and put teams in Seattle and El Paso. Before you laugh at El Paso, it's too far for people to come to games from there and a big enough metropolitan population. Should actually get much support from some Mexican people. The peaceful ones anyway.

[SilverSpur]

The problem is a lack of talent coming in as true stars.

Duke and Kentucky are a nice pipe line to the NBA. Just have every Freshmen class leave early and enter the draft.
Don't forget UCLA and Arizona have a steady flow of players being feed to the NBA.

[Mr. Body]

Duke and Kentucky are a nice pipe line to the NBA. Just have every Freshmen class leave early and enter the draft.
Don't forget UCLA and Arizona have a steady flow of players being feed to the NBA.

Calipari does nothing to prepare the players. He's taking a generation of talent and squandering them, which is why so few turn into stars. Imagine most of those players being the man on their own college teams for a season or two instead of running up and down out-tale ting everyone without learning anything about the game.

[vander]

top tier talent is thin enough in the NBA, just had one of the weakest finals ever IMO. I would rather see the NBA pump some of that extra money into the D-league, maybe expand it to 30 teams.

[Kawhi 5-0]

NBA should continue its pioneering forays into states without any other major sports team (Oklahoma, Utah, Oregon) starting with the Little Rock Pounders.

[Das Texan]

KC & St. Louis are football cities in the winter. NBA would always be insignificant little brother there. Move Memphis and New Orleans eastern and put teams in Seattle and El Paso. Before you laugh at El Paso, it's too far for people to come to games from there and a big enough metropolitan population. Should actually get much support from some Mexican people. The peaceful ones anyway.


No. Its not. Its a hockey town in the winter.