Overview
- Reports this week say Silver told owners at a recent Board of Governors meeting that Seattle is not a guaranteed expansion pick and that at least one Mexico City group has approached PJT Partners with a proposal for a team and new arena district.
- Las Vegas bidding has escalated into a rivalrous process with offers reported toward $10–13 billion, while Seattle’s leading group, led by Samantha Holloway, has submitted offers reported near $6 billion.
- The league is using Mexico City publicly and privately as leverage to push Seattle suitors to increase their price because expansion fees would be paid out to the current 30 owners and higher bids mean much larger payouts.
- Silver has been non‑committal about adding two teams at once, which leaves open the possibility the NBA will grant a Las Vegas franchise now and delay or forego a Seattle franchise if offers do not rise.
- What to watch next: whether Seattle bidders raise their valuations, whether more bidders enter the Seattle race, PJT Partners’ recommendation, and the Board of Governors’ final vote on any Las Vegas or alternate city selections.