"It's a foregone conclusion" - Reggie Miller thinks that the NBA is coming back to Seattle and Las Vegas
The NBA is about to undergo its latest makeover as league expansion is upon us. Currently sitting at 30 teams across the Eastern and Western Conferences, that number, as confirmed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at All-Star weekend in Los Angeles , will increase to 32 teams.
Throughout this deliberation phase, two cities have consistently been mentioned — Seattle and Las Vegas . According to Hall of Famer Reggier Miller, it's for good reason, as he believes it's a foregone conclusion that the league will reward these two cities with an NBA franchise in the near future.
"I think Vegas is a foregone conclusion. I think Seattle is a foregone conclusion. We never should have left Seattle in the first place. It is a great fanbase, as we just witnessed on Super Bowl Sunday, how they travel and how they've been for their football team. Having a chance to play Gary Payton and those other greats, Nate McMillan, Dale Ellis, and some of those great Seattle teams. It was unbearable to come into that building and play against those guys. And that fan base is just absolutely awesome they would be on fire to be back in the league. So I think those two teams, it's a foregone conclusion that the owners will hold on that and we'll have two new teams," Reggie commented .
The timeline
As part of Silver's address to the media in L.A. during this past All-Star break, he also confirmed that a firm decision on the specific cities, timing, and logistics will be made at some point in 2026.
Whether that means the intention is for the new franchises to join the Association immediately following this season in 2027 remains to be seen. Still, at the very minimum, the NBA community will know which organizations will soon be a part of the league.
The acceleration of this decision is scheduled for sometime this month, as the NBA's Board of Governors will reportedly gather to solidify their choices. From all reports, following these formal discussions, a final determination is expected closer to the end of the year, most likely around the NBA Summer League.
Given the timeframe, it may make more sense for the league to push back expansion to another campaign, the 2027-2028 season, but the league office may not wish to wait that long on the back of the work already done.
Important factors to work through
Understandably, the NBA world has been growing impatient with the announcement; however, it is important to consider the many factors involved in bringing a new professional sporting franchise to a new city. Considerations such as economic viability and profitability, local and domestic TV deals, revenue splitting, lottery tinkering and overall state of infrastructure are just a few variables that need to be ironed out before the announcement can be made public.
Revenue splitting is particularly fascinating because, unknowingly to most, it ultimately requires approval and sign-off from other NBA franchises. The league's teams need reassurance that their slice of the pie won't be affected by another team joining the Association and cutting into their profits, so the league office and the bidding city need to highlight the economic uplift their addition will bring to the baseline profit-and-loss statements.
Impacting the competition
Another aspect to consider is the competitive shift expansion will have on the league. Naturally, given the need to maintain the number of teams in each conference, teams will need to move conferences to make the logistics work, as they have in previous expansions.
This will directly affect the league's competitive structure, as realignment is necessary. The teams in question, given their locations, will almost certainly be the Memphis Grizzlies , New Orleans Pelicans , and Minnesota Timberwolves . Acknowledging that both Seattle and Vegas are undeniably West Coast situated, one of these teams will have to move across the East.
In addition, geography undoubtedly plays a pivotal role in the rivalries. Seattle's location in particular would reignite local competition between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors — both of which made the old Sonics era so compelling.
Equally, Las Vegas sits closely alongside both the Phoenix Suns , Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers , creating an intriguing cluster of teams in the Pacific region.
Beyond the flight duration and state-to-state logistics, the expansion draft will also bring its fair share of controversy. Teams bound for the lottery will inevitably have to sacrifice potential picks, both immediately and in the future, because only a limited number of players are available, which enables new teams to build competitive rosters.
If history has shown us anything, it's that provisions are usually put in place to protect teams from losing stars, yet the controversy remains unavoidable, making for excellent cinema.
Miller's approval
Reggie giving the nod to Seattle, especially, is not surprising. After all, he lived through the old Seattle Supersonics era and has fond memories of the organization's enormous support. Uncle Reg has long expressed his desire for a franchise to return to the city after the bitter split that ultimately landed the Sonics under a new brand in Oklahoma City , so he'll definitely be pleased if the Commissioner and the Board grant Seattle a team again.
As for Las Vegas, it's very clear Miller also understands the financial upside a city like that offers. Vegas has steadily grown into an economic powerhouse within the United States, moving away from being a purely vacation and tourist destination to a stable, livable city with a growing population, jobs, and investor interest.
Given that other sporting codes are already having great success in the city, namely the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, it makes total sense for Vegas to now boast its own NBA franchise. Couple that with the Summer League already achieving success in the city from the men's perspective, and it looks like all indicators are aligning on Vegas being a leading candidate.
Miller understands that the NBA is also a business, and given all the momentum Vegas has, it would be illogical for the NBA not to expand there. Ultimately, if the league does officially reward both Seattle and Vegas, it's safe to say Reggie , along with all the old heads from that era, will be very satisfied.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
