Seattle no longer a lock for Expansion team per Windy

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver appears to be upping the ante on the leverage game involving the possible future of the Seattle SuperSonics, multiple ownership sources told ESPN. We say "possible" with care because Silver left owners with the impression that a Seattle expansion team was no longer a lock at last month's board of governors meeting. Silver even reintroduced the idea of Mexico City as a possible destination. At the meeting, owners were told about at least one Mexico City-based group that has approached NBA expansion partner PJT Partners with a plan about launching a team and developing a new arena district there that apparently has caught the league's attention, several sources said. Even though the league has announced it is focused on expanding in Las Vegas and Seattle, Silver hasn't guaranteed anything over the past year. Additionally, he has made it clear there is no assurance the league will add two teams at the same time, as it did with expansions in 1988 (Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat), 1989 (Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic) and 1995 (Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies). There could be a separate timeline for the teams or, possibly, no second team at all. As of now, two things appear to be hard facts: Silver is a full-go on expansion to Las Vegas. The league does not seem to be happy with the bids from Seattle -- yet.

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Let's stop short of the concept that the league could leave Seattle open as a leverage point for other teams trying to get arena deals -- the Portland Trail Blazers being at the top of that list -- because Silver is on the record saying relocation is currently not on the table. But it exists as a plausible, if private, reason the league wouldn't expand to Seattle now. But it all comes back to the same base mission: Get the bid up.

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One more thing ownership sources have pointed out over the past week is the expected $500 million to 600 million expansion fee windfall each team is projected to receive. One team ESPN spoke to is working off a number of $533 million, for example. Forget about that actual number but understand how closely this is being monitored and budgeted. Teams have been making plans for this money for a while, whether it's to pay for their rosters, to upgrade their arenas or to pay down debt. A no on Seattle expansion means hundreds of millions less.

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