(03-17-2026 03:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(03-17-2026 01:54 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-17-2026 12:12 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(03-16-2026 05:02 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  NBA to hold vote on expansion next week,.targeting 2028-29 season:


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4822...teams-2028

I think expanding by 2 makes the most sense. The NFL and NHL worked with 31 for a temporary spurt but its wonky. Here's my 32-team NBA alignment:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
Metropolitan: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars*, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz

* Stars was an old ABA team name based in Anaheim then Los Angeles then Salt Lake City.

This alignment sort of aligns with the NHL. 32 = 2 x 2 x 8 with the Florida teams pairing with Midwestern-ish teams.

yes, Minnesota is the logical one to move East. Memphis and NO are the only other options, but keeping them together is better.

What if they went to NFL style 4-team Divisions? The NBA is in 5-team divisions now, and play each other more.

Western Conference:
(Division names subject to change)
Southwest: LA Clippers, LA Lakers, LV Resort Fees, Phoenix Suns
Northwest: GS Warriors, Sac Kings, Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Sonics
Rocky Mts: Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, OKC Thunder, Dallas Mavericks
Gulf Coast: San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies


Eastern Conference
Southeast: Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat
Northeast: Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets
Mid-Atlantic: Philadelphia 76'ers, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavs
NFC North: Minnesota T-wolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons

4-team divisions would open up the calendar and allows for wonkier alignments because you're going to play others more often. Your alignment is probably as good as it could get. I might flip Toronto with Philadelphia but that would be it. Even then, I'm not sold a change to your alignment would be better.

Pros and Cons to both - really depends on how much the NBA values certain teams playing each other more often than a truly balance (conference) schedule.

With 8 divisions of 4 teams, this is probably the most likely schedule:

12 games in the division (4 games x 3 opponents)
36 games in the conference (3 games x 12 opponents)
32 games non-conference (16 opponents x 2 games)

This makes 80 games, the last two would be either the knockout rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup, or the extra two regular season games for teams that do not make it out of the group stage.

(03-18-2026 12:58 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  With 8 divisions of 4 teams, this is probably the most likely schedule:

12 games in the division (4 games x 3 opponents)
36 games in the conference (3 games x 12 opponents)
32 games non-conference (16 opponents x 2 games)

This makes 80 games, the last two would be either the knockout rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup, or the extra two regular season games for teams that do not make it out of the group stage.

I was trying to figure out what to do with the extra two games when I came up with the same format, but accounting for the NBA Cup works

To get completely ahead of ourselves, the NBA to 36 (assuming no relocations): Cincinnati Rebels, Pittsburgh Ironmen, St. Louis Bombers, Vancouver Huskies
> Rebels were an NBA team based in Cleveland from 1946-1947
> Ironmen were an NBA team based in Pittsburgh from 1946-1947
> Bombers were an NBA team based in St. Louis from 1946-1950
> Huskies were an NBA team based in Toronto from 1946-1947

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Pittsburgh Ironmen, Toronto Raptors
Central: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves
Southeast: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cincinnati Rebels, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest: Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz, Vancouver Huskies
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, St. Louis Bombers

The divisions retain all of their current members (except the Northwest which is not in a great geographical situation anyways) as today with the following changes. Also, Each division brings in one of the new 6 teams (except the Northwest adds 2 while the Central doesn't add any).
> Atlantic adds Pittsburgh
> Central adds Minnesota
> Northwest subtracts Minnesota and adds Seattle, Vancouver
> Pacific adds Las Vegas
> Southeast adds Cincinnati
> Southwest adds St. Louis

(03-18-2026 03:55 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  To get completely ahead of ourselves, the NBA to 36 (assuming no relocations): Cincinnati Rebels, Pittsburgh Ironmen, St. Louis Bombers, Vancouver Huskies
> Rebels were an NBA team based in Cleveland from 1946-1947
> Ironmen were an NBA team based in Pittsburgh from 1946-1947
> Bombers were an NBA team based in St. Louis from 1946-1950
> Huskies were an NBA team based in Toronto from 1946-1947

I don't know if Cincinnati would want a name handed down from a team in Cleveland, even though it would probably realistically be 90 years between the time Cleveland Rebels last played to the time a Cincinnati team hits the hardwood. Anything that could potentially be conflated with the Confederacy is also DOA (Ole Miss notably excepted, although they would push back on any Rebels trademark attempts anyway).

Vancouver might be more accepting of a recycled Toronto name, although I wish the Raptors had resurrected the Huskies name.

(03-18-2026 10:01 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(03-18-2026 03:55 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  To get completely ahead of ourselves, the NBA to 36 (assuming no relocations): Cincinnati Rebels, Pittsburgh Ironmen, St. Louis Bombers, Vancouver Huskies
> Rebels were an NBA team based in Cleveland from 1946-1947
> Ironmen were an NBA team based in Pittsburgh from 1946-1947
> Bombers were an NBA team based in St. Louis from 1946-1950
> Huskies were an NBA team based in Toronto from 1946-1947

I don't know if Cincinnati would want a name handed down from a team in Cleveland, even though it would probably realistically be 90 years between the time Cleveland Rebels last played to the time a Cincinnati team hits the hardwood. Anything that could potentially be conflated with the Confederacy is also DOA (Ole Miss notably excepted, although they would push back on any Rebels trademark attempts anyway).

Vancouver might be more accepting of a recycled Toronto name, although I wish the Raptors had resurrected the Huskies name.

I generally look to defunct teams to find team names. I'd prefer the Cincinnati Royals but they eventually became the Sacramento Kings. I'd doubt the Kings would allow Cincinnati to use their name which is probably trademarked.

(03-19-2026 09:50 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  I generally look to defunct teams to find team names. I'd prefer the Cincinnati Royals but they eventually became the Sacramento Kings. I'd doubt the Kings would allow Cincinnati to use their name which is probably trademarked.

The Royals started out in Rochester. Let Cincinnati have their own identity.

(03-17-2026 03:23 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  One other possibility is to scrap the two-conference alignment for 4 conferences designated by body of water. Have the playoffs be straight qualification regardless of region. This mixes it up a little bit.

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

GULF CONFERENCE: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs

LAKES CONFERENCE: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz

PACIFIC CONFERENCE: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics

That's a fun idea.

& straight qualification would be unique for the pro leagues.

(03-20-2026 04:39 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(03-17-2026 03:23 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  One other possibility is to scrap the two-conference alignment for 4 conferences designated by body of water. Have the playoffs be straight qualification regardless of region. This mixes it up a little bit.

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

GULF CONFERENCE: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs

LAKES CONFERENCE: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz

PACIFIC CONFERENCE: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics

That's a fun idea.

& straight qualification would be unique for the pro leagues.

The only issue is that the Lakes Conference spans three time zones. The Western Conference does that now, but that's not something Cleveland, Indiana, and Detroit currently face.

(03-21-2026 12:08 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(03-20-2026 04:39 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(03-17-2026 03:23 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  One other possibility is to scrap the two-conference alignment for 4 conferences designated by body of water. Have the playoffs be straight qualification regardless of region. This mixes it up a little bit.

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

GULF CONFERENCE: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs

LAKES CONFERENCE: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz

PACIFIC CONFERENCE: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics

That's a fun idea.

& straight qualification would be unique for the pro leagues.

The only issue is that the Lakes Conference spans three time zones. The Western Conference does that now, but that's not something Cleveland, Indiana, and Detroit currently face.

Each owner wants to face everyone at home anyway, so the extra little bit of travel is probably already going to happen to a certain degree anyway.

I like keeping the 6 divisions of the NBA, and doing the following:

Minnesota to Central Division (Eastern Conference)
OKC to Southwest Division (Western Conference)
Las Vegas & Seattle join Utah, Denver, & Portland in the Northwest Division (Western Conference)

If we must go to 4 divisions of 8:

Pacific: SEA, POR, SAC, GST, LAL, LAC, LV, PHX
Central: UTAH, DEN, OKC, DAL, SA, HOU, MEM, NO
Midwest: MIN, MIL, CHI, IND, DET, CLE, MIA, ORL
Atlantic: BOS, NY, BKN, PHI, PHI, TOR, WAS, CLT, ATL

(03-21-2026 08:39 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I like keeping the 6 divisions of the NBA, and doing the following:

Minnesota to Central Division (Eastern Conference)
OKC to Southwest Division (Western Conference)
Las Vegas & Seattle join Utah, Denver, & Portland in the Northwest Division (Western Conference)

LV is close to Phoenix and the LA teams. OKC is traveling regardless. Put them in the NW and LV in the SW

(03-21-2026 08:39 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I like keeping the 6 divisions of the NBA, and doing the following:

Minnesota to Central Division (Eastern Conference)
OKC to Southwest Division (Western Conference)
Las Vegas & Seattle join Utah, Denver, & Portland in the Northwest Division (Western Conference)

(03-23-2026 01:35 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-21-2026 08:39 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I like keeping the 6 divisions of the NBA, and doing the following:

Minnesota to Central Division (Eastern Conference)
OKC to Southwest Division (Western Conference)
Las Vegas & Seattle join Utah, Denver, & Portland in the Northwest Division (Western Conference)

LV is close to Phoenix and the LA teams. OKC is traveling regardless. Put them in the NW and LV in the SW

I know Las Vegas and Seattle will likely have more generous terms for their entry than Orlando, Miami, Minnesota, the OG Hornets, and Bobcats did, but I would think Las Vegas and Seattle are still going to be in separate divisions to address any competitive balance concerns.

Northwest - Seattle*, Portland, Utah, Denver, Sacramento
Pacific - Las Vegas*, Phoenix, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Golden State
Southwest - Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, New Orleans, Memphis, Oklahoma City

I suppose you could swap Sacramento and Phoenix and make the Northwest Divisiom, something like the Mountain Division, given that Las Vegas and Phoenix obviously would have no history, and they likely would still play three times a year even in separate divisions.

The only drawback to six divisions besides the asymmetry is that it pushes the schedules to most teams to 81 games using a 4-3-2 split, and for teams in the larger divisions, they have 82 games. Fans seem to hate the NBA Cup, but I don't see it going away. Would the league potentially add an 83rd, 84th, and potentially 85th game for some teams?

Without the NBA Cup (or with schedule expansion to accommodate the knockout rounds), six divisions can work with teams in the five-team divisions playing an extra game between each other to get to 82 games. This could be used to patch things like Las Vegas-Phoenix if Phoenix plays in the Northwest/Mountain, or Washington/Philadelphia if Washington is in the Southeast.

(03-23-2026 01:35 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-21-2026 08:39 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I like keeping the 6 divisions of the NBA, and doing the following:

Minnesota to Central Division (Eastern Conference)
OKC to Southwest Division (Western Conference)
Las Vegas & Seattle join Utah, Denver, & Portland in the Northwest Division (Western Conference)

LV is close to Phoenix and the LA teams. OKC is traveling regardless. Put them in the NW and LV in the SW

I’m not sure the Suns would want to give up being division mates with the CA schools.

OKC is on Central time—it makes the most sense to move them to the Southwest.

If the league really didn’t want the new teams sharing a division I guess they could force Phoenix to switch and put LV in with the CA teams:

NW: SEA, POR, UTAH, PHX, DEN
PAC: LAC, LAL, SAC, GST, LV