NBA Consolidation/Expansion- A Serious Look

By Kyle Cocchi

Series with Dan Turner

The NBA is a league built around a limited amount of Superstars and supporting cast members.  Because of the small number of roster spots on a given team and limited talent (aka the drastic difference one player can make on a NBA team), players preference has a large impact in this multi- billion dollar association.  Financially and philosophically any given team is centered on the physical and mental health, along with the wellbeing and behavior of only a handful of players. Because of all these factors, the NBA is destined to change and adapt at a much quicker rate than other team sports. This must include how many teams are within the NBA and what market these teams play in. In this continuing series with Dan, I will dive into the topic of NBA consolidation and what that may or should look like.

Change the Game or Play the Game?

Like it or not, the rules of the NBA have changed off the court. At one-point players created rivals between each other, a famous example was Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. These players where not thinking about playing with but wanting to play against each other. This naturally spread talent around the NBA but something drastically changed over the years, which created players wanting to team up and create the age of the super team.  Why did this happen? Well, many factors are at play but the most important reasons where the Olympic games creating friendships and the whole idea you need to win a Championship to become an elite player.  So now the NBA needs to adapt to this game change, or change the game.

The most obvious change would have been for the owners to ‘spread the wealth’ of talent by creating ways to stop super teams from being created.  The NBA last year created a larger luxury tax along with the NBA’s soft cap. Still, teams able to pay in large markets will still try to get the most talent they can afford. So, with franchise tags off the table right now, we must look at the realities the NBA is facing and adapt.

Play the Game

The reality is Stars want to play in big markets or areas conducive to players’ ideal lifestyle with other Stars.  Also, the marketplace of a given area needs to be able to support a team in Arena revenue, merchandise, and a well structured TV deal.  Through the NBA lotto and draft, some small market teams can get lucky and develop Star players but because of what was outlined above, most teams cannot hold on to them. I propose only a very limited amount of small market teams, with a strong following. With a smaller number of teams, even small markets with bad teams can thrive. How so you ask? Fewer teams will be in the lotto, so you can grab good players, plus more super teams coming to town will fill Arenas.

So what teams need to be cut or moved? Come back soon and I will explain my thoughts.

Expansionist Thoughts by Dan 

 The NBA is one of the fastest growing sports leagues in the world. From the early 90's until now, the NBA has become a global empire stretching from the U.S to China. Some of that has to do with David Stern expanding the brand, some of that has to do with MJ, and a lot of it has to do with the Olympics. They have introduced non-NBA players such as Manu Ginobili (Ray's Favorite Player), Dirk, Tony Parker (Pretty much the Spurs) and others. How do you take advantage of this influx of talent? You expand! Now I'm not here to say that you put an NBA team into every major city in America. It has to be strategic. While Kyle takes a look at downsizing, I'm gonna show how the NBA can expand smartly into more markets and continue to grow their product. Check back soon for details.