Vegas first? Seattle on hold? Where NBA expansion stands ahead of the 2026-27 season

The NBA is nearing the conclusion of its expansion process, with commissioner Adam Silver targeting an ownership vote before the end of the calendar year. League attention is primarily focused on selecting a winning ownership bid for a Las Vegas franchise from three finalist groups, with the team expected to cost around $10 billion plus arena construction expenses.

A potential Seattle expansion franchise is valued at approximately $6 billion, where Samantha Holloway's group currently leads bidding. If approved by at least 23 of the 30 team owners, the combined expansion fees could generate $15 billion to $18 billion, yielding roughly $500 million to $600 million for each existing franchise before new teams begin play in 2028-29.