NBA Expansion and Realignment (gloatingkitten2503)

During the 2024 offseason, the NBA Board of Owners voted to bring in two expansion teams for the 2025-26 NBA season. The $2.5 billion expansion fees for each team was spread out evenly to the other 30 teams. It would later be decided that the expansion teams would be the Seattle Supersonics (making their return after moving to Oklahoma City in 2008), the Las Vegas Blackjacks, and more. As a result of a whole lot of new teams being added, the NBA would realign the two conferences to have 4 division each instead of 3. The league held an expansion draft on Thursday, June 19, which was one week before the NBA Draft on June 26. 
== Las Vegas Blackjacks ==
The Las Vegas Blackjacks are owned by a consortium of individuals led by NBA star LeBron James. The Blackjacks play their home games at T-Mobile Arena, which is also the home of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights franchise. 
== Los Angeles Clippers Move ==
On September 17, 2021, the Los Angeles Clippers and software company Intuit announced a 23-year naming rights agreement for the Clippers planned stadium, the arena would be known as the Intuit Dome. On the same day, ground broke officially starting construction.
== Seattle Supersonics ==
Originally an NBA franchise that operated with the name from 1967 to 2008 before relocating to Oklahoma City and renaming to the Thunder. After years of requests from the city and the fan base, the Supersonics made their return in 2025. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is the owner of the team, and they play their home games in Climate Pledge Arena, which is also the home of the NHL's Seattle Kraken franchise. All Oklahoma City Thunder history and stats from before 2008 was returned to the Supersonics. 
== NBA Expansion and Realignment ==
*
* The Las Vegas Venom and Seattle Supersonics were added to the Western Conference.
*The Memphis Grizzlies were moved to the Eastern Conference. 
=== NBA Teams ===
Division 	Team 	City 	Arena 	Capacity
Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference
Atlantic 	Boston Celtics 	Boston, Massachusetts 	TD Garden 	19,156
Atlantic 	Brooklyn Nets 	New York City, New York 	Barclays Center 	17,732
Atlantic 	New York Knicks 	New York City, New York 	Madison Square Garden 	19,812
Atlantic 	Philadelphia 76ers 	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Wells Fargo Center 	20,478
Central 	Chicago Bulls 	Chicago, Illinois 	United Center 	20,917
Central 	Detroit Pistons 	Detroit, Michigan 	Little Caesars Arena 	20,332
Central 	Milwaukee Bucks 	Milwaukee, Wisconsin 	Fiserv Forum 	17,341
Central 	Toronto Raptors 	Toronto, Ontario 	Scotiabank Arena 	19,800
Metropolitan 	Cleveland Cavaliers 	Cleveland, Ohio 	Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse	19,432
Metropolitan 	Indiana Pacers 	Indianapolis, Indiana 	Gainbridge Fieldhouse 	17,923
Metropolitan 	Memphis Grizzlies 	Memphis, Tennessee 	FedExForum 	18,119
Metropolitan 	Washington Wizards 	Washington, D.C. 	Capital One Arena 	20,356
Southeast 	Atlanta Hawks 	Atlanta, Georgia 	State Farm Arena 	16,600
Southeast 	Charlotte Hornets 	Charlotte, North Carolina 	Spectrum Center 	19,077
Southeast 	Miami Heat 	Miami, Florida 	Kaseya Center 	19,600
Southeast 	Orlando Magic 	Orlando, Florida 	Kia Center 	18,846
Western Conference	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference
Midwest 	Denver Nuggets 	Denver, Colorado 	Ball Arena 	19,520
Midwest 	Minnesota Timberwolves	Minneapolis, Minnesota 	Target Center 	18,798
Midwest 	Oklahoma City Thunder 	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 	Paycom Center 	18.203
Midwest 	Utah Jazz 	Salt Lake City, Utah 	Delta Center 	18,306
Pacific 	Golden State Warriors 	San Francisco, California 	Chase Center 	18,064
Pacific 	Portland Trail Blazers	Portland, Oregon 	Moda Center 	19,393
Pacific 	Sacramento Kings 	Sacramento, California 	Golden 1 Center 	17,608
Pacific 	Seattle Supersonics 	Seattle, Washington 	Climate Pledge Arena 	18,300
South 	Dallas Mavericks 	Dallas, Texas 	American Airlines Center 	19,200
South 	Houston Rockets 	Houston, Texas 	Toyota Center 	18,055
South 	New Orleans Pelicans 	New Orleans, Louisiana 	Smoothie King Center 	16,867
South 	San Antonio Spurs 	San Antonio, Texas 	Frost Bank Center 	18,418
Southwest 	Las Vegas Venom 	Paradise, Nevada 	T-Mobile Arena 	18,000
Southwest 	Los Angeles Clippers 	Inglewood, California 	Intuit Dome 	18,000
Southwest 	Los Angeles Lakers 	Los Angeles, California 	Crypto.com Arena 	19,079
Southwest 	Phoenix Suns 	Phoenix, Arizona 	Footprint Center 	16,645
=== Expansion Draft ===
The expansion draft will be held on June 19, one week before the NBA Draft. Current teams can protect up to eight players. Each team must make at least one player available. If selected, restricted free agents become unrestricted free agents. Pending options can be decided before or after the expansion draft at the discretion of the option holder. Anyone selected in the expansion draft can't return to his prior team for one year. Players entering unrestricted free agency and players on two-way contracts are not included. 
Rules for the expansion draft: 
* A coin flip decides who picks first. The winner's choice is Nos. 5 and 36 picks in the 2024 NBA Draft/second choice in expansion draft or Nos. 6 and 35 picks in 2024 NBA Draft/first choice in expansion draft.
* Expansion teams alternate picks.
* Expansion teams must select one player from each incumbent team. Exception: if the only players available from an incumbent team earn at least $10 million, the expansion teams can bypass selection from that team. Expansion teams can't select more than one player from each incumbent team.
* Expansion teams operate at 80% of the league-wide salary their first season and 90% of the league-wide salary cap their second season. The usual floor still applies. 
* Expansion teams draft without regard to the salary cap. 
* Expansion teams can waive any selected player before the start of the season, and his salary doesn't apply toward the salary cap and luxury tax. Essentially, expansion teams get unlimited amnesty provisions with selected players before the start of the season. 
* Incumbent teams can offer draft compensation to entice expansion teams to select certain players. 
== G-League Expansion ==
Team 	City 	Pod 	Arena 	Capacity 	NBA Affiliate
Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Birmingham Squadron 	Birmingham, Alabama 	South 	Legacy Arena 	17,654 	New Orleans Pelicans
Capital City Go-Go 	Washington, D.C. 	East 	Entertainment and Sports Arena	4,200 	Washington Wizards
Cleveland Charge 	Cleveland, Ohio 	Central 	Wolstein Center 	8,500 	Cleveland Cavaliers
College Park Skyhawks 	College Park, Georgia 	East 	Gateway Center Arena 	3,500 	Atlanta Hawks
Delaware Blue Coats 	Wilmington, Delaware 	East 	Chase Fieldhouse 	2,500 	Philadelphia 76ers
Fort Wayne Mad Ants 	Indianapolis, Indiana 	Central 	Gainbridge Fieldhouse 	17,274 	Indiana Pacers
Grand Rapids Gold 	Grand Rapids, Michigan 	Central 	Van Andel Arena 	11,500 	Denver Nuggets
Greensboro Swarm 	Greensboro, North Carolina	South 	Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse	2,500 	Charlotte Hornets
Long Island Nets 	Uniondale, New York 	East 	Nassau Coliseum 	13,500 	Brooklyn Nets
Maine Celtics 	Portland, Maine 	East 	Portland Exposition Building 	3,100 	Boston Celtics
Memphis Hustle 	Southaven, Mississippi 	South 	Landers Center 	8,362 	Memphis Grizzlies
Motor City Cruise 	Detroit, Michigan 	Central 	Wayne State Fieldhouse 	3,000 	Detroit Pistons
Osceola Magic 	Kissimmee, Florida 	South 	Silver Spurs Arena 	8,000 	Orlando Magic
Raptors 905 	Mississauga, Ontario 	East 	Paramount Fine Foods Centre 	5,000 	Toronto Raptors
Westchester Knicks 	White Plains, New York 	East 	Westchester County Center 	5,000 	New York Knicks
Windy City Bulls 	Hoffman Estates, Illinois 	Central 	Now Arena 	10,000 	Chicago Bulls
Wisconsin Herd 	Oshkosh, Wisconsin 	Central 	Oshkosh Arena 	3,500 	Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference	Western Conference 	Western Conference	Western Conference
Austin Spurs 	Cedar Park, Texas 	South 	H-E-B Center at Cedar Park 	7,200 	San Antonio Spurs
Capitanes de Ciudad de México	Mexico City, Mexico 	South 	Mexico City Arena 	22,300 	None
Idaho Stampede 	Boise, Idaho 	West 	Idaho Central Arena 	5,732 	Seattle Supersonics
Iowa Wolves 	Des Moines, Iowa 	Central 	Wells Fargo Arena 	16,110 	Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA G League Ignite 	Henderson, Nevada 	West 	Dollar Loan Center 	5,567 	None
Northern Arizona Suns 	Prescott Valley, Arizona 	West 	Findlay Toyota Center 	5,100 	Phoenix Suns
Oklahoma City Blue 	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 	Central 	Paycom Center 	18,203 	Oklahoma City Thunder
Ontario Clippers 	Ontario, California 	West 	Toyota Arena 	10,832 	Los Angeles Clippers
Rio Grande Valley Vipers 	Edinburg, Texas 	South 	Bert Ogden Arena 	9,000 	Houston Rockets
Rip City Remix 	North Portland, Oregon 	West 	Chiles Center 	4,852 	Portland Trail Blazers
Salt Lake City Stars 	West Valley City, Utah 	West 	Maverik Center 	12,500 	Utah Jazz
Santa Cruz Warriors 	Santz Cruz, California 	West 	Kaiser Permanente Arena 	2,505 	Golden State Warriors
Sin City Scorpions 	Paradise, Nevada 	West 	T-Mobile Arena 	18,000 	Las Vegas Venom
Sioux Falls Skyforce 	Sioux Falls, South Dakota 	Central 	Sanford Pentagon 	3,250 	Miami Heat
South Bay Lakers 	El Segundo, California 	West 	UCLA Health Training Center 	750 	Los Angeles Lakers
Stockton Kings 	Stockton, California 	West 	Stockton Arena 	11,193 	Sacramento Kings
Texas Legends 	Frisco, Texas 	South 	Comerica Center 	4,500 	Dallas Mavericks
== WNBA Expansion ==
=== 2024 Expansion ===
In the summer of 2023, the WNBA announced plans to add two expansion teams that would begin play during the 2024 WNBA season. The two teams who landed expansion bids were the Philadelphia Creation and the Houston Comets, the latter of which had previously been a WNBA franchise that played from 1997-2008 and won 4 championships. 
=== 2026 Expansion ===
The WNBA announced in late-2024 that two more expansion teams would be added for the 2026 WNBA season. The two teams that landed expansion bids during this round of expansion were the Nashville Notes and the Oakland Oak. 
=== 2030 Expansion ===
The WNBA announced during the 2028 season that two more expansion teams would be added for the 2030 WNBA season. The two teams that landed expansion bids in this round of expansion were the Toronto Tundra and Portland Lava. 
=== WNBA Teams ===
* The Philadelphia Creation were added to the Eastern Conference in 2024.
* The Houston Comets were added to the Western Conference in 2024. 
* The Nashville Notes were added to the Eastern Conference in 2026.
* The Oakland Oak were added to the Western Conference in 2026.
*The Toronto Tundra were added to the Eastern Conference in 2030. 
*The Portland Lava were added to the Western Conference in 2030. 
Conference 	Team 	City 	Arena 	Capacity
Eastern Conference	Atlanta Dream 	College Park, Georgia 	State Farm Arena 	16,600
Eastern Conference	Chicago Sky 	Chicago, Illinois 	Wintrust Arena 	10,387
Eastern Conference	Connecticut Sun 	Uncasville, Connecticut 	Mohegan Sun Arena 	9,323
Eastern Conference	Indiana Fever 	Indianapolis, Indiana 	Gainbridge Fieldhouse 	17,923
Eastern Conference	Nashville Notes 	Nashville, Tennessee 	Bridgestone Arena 	19,395
Eastern Conference	New York Liberty 	Brooklyn, New York 	Barclays Center 	17,732
Eastern Conference	Philadelphia Creation	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Wells Fargo Center 	20,478
Eastern Conference	Toronto Tundra 	Toronto, Ontario 	Scotiabank Arena 	19,800
Eastern Conference	Washington Mystics 	Washington, D.C. 	Capital One Arena 	20,356
Western Conference	Dallas Wings 	Arlington, Texas 	American Airlines Center	19,200
Western Conference	Houston Comets 	Houston, Texas 	Toyota Center 	18,055
Western Conference	Las Vegas Aces 	Paradise, Nevada 	Michelob Ultra Arena 	12,000
Western Conference	Los Angeles Sparks 	Los Angeles, California 	Crypto.com Arena 	18,997
Western Conference	Minnesota Lynx 	Minneapolis, Minnesota 	Target Center 	19,356
Western Conference	Oakland Oak 	Oakland, California 	Oakland Arena 	19,596
Western Conference	Phoenix Mercury 	Phoenix, Arizona 	Footprint Center 	18,422
Western Conference	Portland Lava 	Portland, Oregon 	Moda Center 	19,393
Western Conference	Seattle Storm 	Seattle, Washington 	Climate Pledge Arena 	18,100
== NBA Rule Changes ==
=== In-Season Tournament ===
Beginning with the 2023-24 season, the NBA began playing a tournament in the middle of the season. This in-season tournament features all 30 teams playing several pool-play games that determine the eight teams that advance to a single-elimination tournament. The final four of this tournament was originally played in Las Vegas but was moved to Kansas City in the 2025-26 season once Las Vegas landed an NBA team. Each player on the winning team of this tournament is rewarded with $500,000 and the coaches for the winning team are awarded prize money as well.
=== Scheduling Changes ===
Each team will still play 82 games and the schedule will be broken down as follows: 
* Each out-of-conference team is played twice (32 games)
* Each divisional opponent is played four times each (12 games) 
*Each of the 12 non-divisional conference opponents are played three times each (36 games)
*Two extra games are played against different conference opponents on a six-year basis 
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