It looks like the Portland Trailblazers and the City of Portland aren't talking right now. Tim Dundon, the new majority owner is also the owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. But one of the members of the Blazers' ownership group is Richard Chaifetz, who has been a major donor to Saint Louis University.

Presumably the team would play in the Enterprise Center along with the NHL's Blues, although at some point you have to figure they would want their own building. This also would cause minimal realignment, although you now have four teams who could viably move to the Eastern Conference once expansion occurs between Minnesota, Saint Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans.

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

I still think Minnesota moves east once expansion occurs simply because of their proximity to Milwaukee.

Minnesota is DEFINITELY moving to the Eastern Conference. Could KC or San Diego work?

What about Seattle? I feel like KC and St Louis are both options the NBA would be okay with too.

The two western cities that I think are out of the running would be Vancouver and San Diego.

Muskie: The next 2 expansion teams will be a resurrected Sonics & a team in Sin City.

I wonder how much Dundon likes Raleigh and the arena there? Does he dare approach a city like Kansas City who lacks NBA and NHL with the unique opportunity to build 1 arena for his 2 franchises?

Cincinnati and San Diego are also top 40 market that don’t host either winter sport.

(07-29-2026 09:57 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I wonder how much Dundon likes Raleigh and the arena there? Does he dare approach a city like Kansas City who lacks NBA and NHL with the unique opportunity to build 1 arena for his 2 franchises?

Cincinnati and San Diego are also top 40 market that don’t host either winter sport.

Does Kansas City even need an arena? T-Mobile is getting to that awkward age, although as busy as it reportedly is a relocated Canes and Blazers could justify their own building. Don't forget Kemper Arena is still around as well.

I don't know how well the NBA would like Dundin moving to Raleigh, but there is a strong business case for Dudnon's trams playing on the same barn, as well as for people basketball in that market. Charlotte, Memphis, Minnesota, and New Orleans will be no votes, though.

I know there is some effort to being the NHL to Cincinnati and San Diego, but not sure how much is in place beyond some renderings for new arenas.

Oddly enough, the Trailblazer name works in Kansas City and St Louis. St Louis was the departure point in of famed trailblazers Lewis and Clark and most of those pioneers who went to Oregon and California came through Kansas City.

I could totally see the St Louis Trailblazers having 2 oxen mascots named Lewis and Clark.

(07-29-2026 02:55 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(07-29-2026 09:57 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I wonder how much Dundon likes Raleigh and the arena there? Does he dare approach a city like Kansas City who lacks NBA and NHL with the unique opportunity to build 1 arena for his 2 franchises?

Cincinnati and San Diego are also top 40 market that don’t host either winter sport.

Does Kansas City even need an arena? T-Mobile is getting to that awkward age, although as busy as it reportedly is a relocated Canes and Blazers could justify their own building. Don't forget Kemper Arena is still around as well.

I don't know how well the NBA would like Dundin moving to Raleigh, but there is a strong business case for Dudnon's trams playing on the same barn, as well as for people basketball in that market. Charlotte, Memphis, Minnesota, and New Orleans will be no votes, though.

I know there is some effort to being the NHL to Cincinnati and San Diego, but not sure how much is in place beyond some renderings for new arenas.

Kemper Arena, now HyVee Arena, remains standing, but it's was converted into a multi-court complex seven years ago. Go to the 7:30 mark.
https://youtu.be/OOiz6j9jyAs?is=fXHpL4BK6p8K0Iek

The upper level, the 300 Level is separated from the 100 Level as they built a second floor.



Kansas City and Jefferson County needs to finalize any plans for the Royals first, well before any thought of renovations to T-Mobile.

And whether it's St. Louis, Louisville and even Raleigh,, the NBA team is going to receive second tenant status this, much lower margins on advertising and premium seat revenue.

I imagine the Charlotte Hornets would vehemently fight the relocation of the Blazers to Raleigh, but this would be the simplest solution for Dundon.

(07-29-2026 08:42 AM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Minnesota is DEFINITELY moving to the Eastern Conference. Could KC or San Diego work?

San Diego has had three teams in the NBA/ABA; all failed. Even the proposed new arena would only seat 16k. The arena in Kansas City is profitable without a franchise.

Would much rather send the Hawks packing back to STL....

Portland losing the Blazers would stink. If that happens before Seattle gets their expansion then the Pacific Northwest would have gone from 3 teams in 2001 to no teams 25+ years later. I don't think a single region in modern professional Big 4 sports has been more impacted in a single sport than PNW.

(07-29-2026 04:43 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Oddly enough, the Trailblazer name works in Kansas City and St Louis. St Louis was the departure point in of famed trailblazers Lewis and Clark and most of those pioneers who went to Oregon and California came through Kansas City.

I could totally see the St Louis Trailblazers having 2 oxen mascots named Lewis and Clark.

That would be an AWESOME logo