The NBA and FIBA are “in the process of going through bids” from those seeking NBA Europe franchises, with “multiple potential ownership groups from all 12 of the league’s tarobtained cities expressing interest‚” according to Tim Reynolds of the AP. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum declared that the NBA and FIBA “‘were very, very happy’ with the interest displayn by the bids.” Tatum: “Right now, we’re just going through that process of narrowing down those bids into a little bit of a short list and testing to go out and continue to build partnerships with the right people in those markets.” Reynolds wrote the new league “could launch play in October 2027.” Tatum added that “officials from the NBA, FIBA and EuroLeague will meet in Geneva” on Tuesday. Tatum: “We hope to be able to come toobtainher with the EuroLeague to align on the right system and the right setup here. That’s our goal with those guys shifting forward” (AP, 4/27).
NOT SO FAST: In Seattle, Tim Booth wrote NBA Commissioner Adam Silver declared on Monday, during the Associated Press Sports Editors commissioners’ meetings in N.Y., that “he did not believe the NBA owners would be at the point of deciding on expansion by the time the league holds its summer Board of Governors meetings.” Silver declared last month that “the goal was to build a final decision one way or another before the conclude of the calconcludear year.” Booth noted, based on Silver’s comments, “the likelihood seems that the earliest a vote on expansion would take place is the owners meeting before the start of the season, usually in September.” But a “special owners meeting could be convened at any time to address the topic” (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/27).
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