Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon reaches agreement to buy the Portland TrailBlazers:

https://www.blazersedge.com/trail-blazer...urrricanes

Not sure how other NBA owners would feel about a relocation, but Raleigh (#22) is a comparable sized DMA to both Charlotte (#21) and Portland (#23). Owners may settle for a relocation fee especially if they can expand to Portland later for perhaps a much larger sum.

This would also pose an interesting realignment quandary:

Southeast - Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh
Atlantic - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Brooklyn, Boston
Central - Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, Indiana, Chicago

Northwest - Milwaukee, Minnesota, Denver, Utah, Oklahoma City
Southwest - San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis
Pacific - Sacramento, Golden State, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Phoenix

There would be a decent argument for moving Memphis or New Orleans to the Central Division and putting Chicago in the Northwest (which would likely be renamed Midwest) and moving Oklahoma City to the Southwest to replace New Orleans or Memphis. If the NBA expands to 32 with two of Seattle, Portland, and Las Vegas, the other of New Orleans or Memphis could move to the Eastern Conference:

Eastern
Southeast - New Orleans, Memphis, Atlanta, Washington, Charlotte, Raleigh, Orlando, Miami
Northeast - Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana

Western
Midwest - Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Denver
Pacific - Utah, Phoenix, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Sacramento, Golden State, Expansion*, Expansion*

This would be a more relevant topic if the NBA's divisions mattered at all to the schedule or postseason. (Technically they do matter for the schedule, though only slightly.)

I agree with your 2x3x5 setup if Portland did relocate to Raleigh. And your 2x2x8 setup would potentially work for 32 teams, with Las Vegas and Seattle as the likely expansion sites. An alternative to the 2x3x5:

30 teams, 2 conferences of 2 divisions each (preparation for expansion to 32)

Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Boston, Brooklyn, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington
East Central: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Memphis, Raleigh

Western Conference
West Central: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio
Pacific: Denver, Golden State, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Phoenix, Sacramento, Utah

If they then add Las Vegas and Seattle, we have:

Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Boston, Brooklyn, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington
East Central: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Memphis, New Orleans, Raleigh

Western Conference
West Central: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, San Antonio
Pacific: Golden State, Las Vegas, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Phoenix, Sacramento, Seattle, Utah

Owners don't want relocation as Dundon will not pay $4B for the team, plus a relocation fee which would get split 29 ways. So the owners with Silver's aid will reject all relocations, even to Seattle or Las Vegas. They want the expansion fee.

(08-16-2025 03:14 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  Owners don't want relocation as Dundon will not pay $4B for the team, plus a relocation fee which would get split 29 ways. So the owners with Silver's aid will reject all relocations, even to Seattle or Las Vegas. They want the expansion fee.

Maybe he'll move the Hurricanes to Portland then.

Dundon's proving he's got the cheddar to make a play for MLB to Raleigh *OR* his dream ownership gig as the successor to Jerry Jones and the Cowboys in his native Texas.

(08-16-2025 04:07 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(08-16-2025 03:14 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  Owners don't want relocation as Dundon will not pay $4B for the team, plus a relocation fee which would get split 29 ways. So the owners with Silver's aid will reject all relocations, even to Seattle or Las Vegas. They want the expansion fee.

Maybe he'll move the Hurricanes to Portland then.

This may be the play. I've thought this as well. Slight shifting in the West and replace Carolina with Nashville. I would switch Boston and Columbus to keep the Bruins and Rangers together.

Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Buffalo, Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
Metro: Boston, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington

Western Conference
Central: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, St. Louis, Utah, Vegas, Winnipeg
Pacific: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Portland, San Jose, Seattle, Vancouver

I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but the Trailblazers aren't going anywhere.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4596...y-portland

I’m sure the Milwaukee Bucks would want some sort of compensation for being forced West.

I think the bigger realignment threat than Raleigh is Seattle.

(08-18-2025 02:22 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I’m sure the Milwaukee Bucks would want some sort of compensation for being forced West.

I think the bigger realignment threat than Raleigh is Seattle.

Las Vegas and Seattle are getting a team. It's not a matter of if but when.

(08-17-2025 06:30 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  Dundon's proving he's got the cheddar to make a play for MLB to Raleigh *OR* his dream ownership gig as the successor to Jerry Jones and the Cowboys in his native Texas.

Not going to occur unless two of the three Jones children sell. Charlotte, Stephen and Jerry, Jr. currently own 49% of the team with him and wife Jean owning the other 51%. A controlling owner must hold 30% of the franchise. The kids and their heirs aren't going to give up the money cannon of the Dallas Cowboys even as Jerry is one of the largest land owners in North Texas through Blue Star Land.

I was wondering the opposite: what if the Canes moved to Portland?

(08-19-2025 01:14 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  I was wondering the opposite: what if the Canes moved to Portland?

I read that they just accepted a bunch of taxpayer money for arena renovations in exchange for a 20 year lease extension. I don’t think they are moving anytime soon

Guess that answers that. Would Portland support an NHL team?

(08-20-2025 05:29 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Guess that answers that. Would Portland support an NHL team?

I think there's a number of cities ahead of Portland on the NHL expansion target list. Alphabetically: Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, and Quebec. They are the most often cited and brings the league to 36 which is the "next" fully even alignment.

(08-21-2025 12:04 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(08-20-2025 05:29 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Guess that answers that. Would Portland support an NHL team?

I think there's a number of cities ahead of Portland on the NHL expansion target list. Alphabetically: Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, and Quebec. They are the most often cited and brings the league to 36 which is the "next" fully even alignment.

Houston should be #1 on the NHL's list of expansion/relocation targets as the largest metro in either the US or Canada without an NHL team. Atlanta and Phoenix are not far behind in terms of size, but their fairly recent failures to retain a team don't speak well of their chances. While its metro is relatively small, I'm sure the NHL would be very cordially welcomed back to Quebec.

(08-21-2025 12:56 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(08-21-2025 12:04 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(08-20-2025 05:29 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Guess that answers that. Would Portland support an NHL team?

I think there's a number of cities ahead of Portland on the NHL expansion target list. Alphabetically: Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, and Quebec. They are the most often cited and brings the league to 36 which is the "next" fully even alignment.

Houston should be #1 on the NHL's list of expansion/relocation targets as the largest metro in either the US or Canada without an NHL team. Atlanta and Phoenix are not far behind in terms of size, but their fairly recent failures to retain a team don't speak well of their chances. While its metro is relatively small, I'm sure the NHL would be very cordially welcomed back to Quebec.

I think the NHL all but confirmed that the failure in Arizona was ownership related and not the market. Atlanta is a tougher one to figure out but the market is big. Houston makes sense and they are my #1 expansion option but only actually putting a team there will tell if the market is NHL ready. I actually like both Quebec and Hamilton for the NHL. If there's relocation opportunities, I'd like to see 1/4 of the NHL be Canada for their own division/conference.

Here's how I'd set up a 4-conference league assuming expansion to the 4 named above plus a relocation of the Carolina Hurricanes to Hamilton. I'd normally pick the Florida Panthers but I don't think they're going anywhere. Buffalo would make a much shorter trip as a relo team but they seem fine where they are. Carolina has some struggles attendance-wise. Ignoring their new arena funding.

Eastern Conference: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins
Northern Conference: Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Hamilton Tigers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Nordiques, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets
Southern Conference: Atlanta Phoenix, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Houston Aeros, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals
Western Conference: Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights

charlotte would block them

bring back the whalers!

The Canes play in Greensboro. I don’t get why the NHL keeps trying to put teams in the Sun Belt. Full disclosure: hockey is my #4 sport.

(08-24-2025 02:24 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  The Canes play in Greensboro. I don’t get why the NHL keeps trying to put teams in the Sun Belt. Full disclosure: hockey is my #4 sport.

The Carolina Hurricanes play in Raleigh, NC. Greensboro is farther west in the state.

The odd thing is that Portland feels like one of those quirky niche markets where NHL works, while Seattle feels more like a mainstream NBA market.