The announcement by an AP reporter of an upcoming announcement of the NBA’s expansion to 32 franchises, to Seattle and Las Vegas, had set the Web on fire. Things have since settled down as the league has (once again) denied any announcements during preseason games, with the reporter retracting his message.
“I’m not going to talk about that.” responds by the way Tod Leiwekethe man responsible for bringing the NBA back to the “Emerald City”, when asked about the subject. “There are going to be a lot of rumors and innuendo. You know, we think the best thing we can do is never take the league by surprise. They have important things to manage: the new collective agreement, their contracts with the broadcasters… In due time, they will come to that. And in due course, we will be well positioned. “
This is generally what has been emerging lately. The NBA is waiting for the next collective agreement (in 2024) and the next TV contract (in 2025) to decide if an expansion to 32 (or even more?) teams is possible.
“The hardest part is over, with the construction of a world class hall. That’s the reason the team left (to Oklahoma City, in 2008). We now have this world-class room in place. It will stand the test of time. The building is phenomenal for playing basketball. And we’re very happy the Clippers are playing the Blazers here. (in pre-season, next October 3). “
For Tod Leiweke, it is in any case extremely important to respect the stages, especially by showing the NBA that the renovation of the KeyArena offers a setting worthy of the league, without trying to force its hand.
“You know, we have an owner who owns part of an NBA team (Tod Leiweke is owner and president of the Seattle Kraken, an ice hockey team that plays in the NHL and in which David Bonderman, minority shareholder of the Celtics, has also invested). So there is an intrinsic affinity. I would just say that I came back to shake things up. And we’re not done yet. But I don’t want to get ahead of commissioning it”concludes Tod Leiweke, former leader of the Blazers and Warriors. “But we tried to do everything right. Whether it is the private financing of a building, the salvage of a historical monument, the integration of more capacitors, the repair of the monorail, our partnership with the Storm (WNBA) or the construction of a training center. We did everything right. But we are not done. And we know this town won’t be fulfilled until we bring the NBA back here. “
