What happened: The NBA's Board of Governors has approved a vote to solicit bids exclusively for expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, per ESPN sources. A formal bidding process is anticipated to attract offers in the $7-10 billion range per franchise. This narrows focus after years of broader expansion discussions.
Why it matters: Expansion to 32 teams would boost league revenue through massive fees shared with owners. It risks talent dilution, potentially impacting parity and playoffs. Historically, NBA's last expansion was 2004; Seattle revives Sonics relocation saga.
By the numbers: Expected bid range per team: $7-10 billion.
What to watch: Monitor formal league vote results and ownership group announcements from bidding process.