The last NBA team to relocate was the Supersonics in 2008. You can read more about why the Seattle Supersonics will return to the NBA here. The NBA will very likely expand into the next one of the many cities that are ready, but it could also relocate a team to balance the Eastern and Western conferences.
Memphis Grizzlies is an NBA team likely to relocate based on being the least most valuable franchise in the NBA.
Although the outlook for the Grizzlies to stay in Memphis was very bleak a few years back their outlook has taken a stunning turn of events. Ja Morant keeps taking the Grizzlies to new heights in Memphis ever since he was drafted with the second pick in 2019 behind Zion Williamson. The 2020 Rookie of the Year became an All-Star in 2022 and also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
He also churned out one of the most iconic playoff performances in franchise history to put Memphis back into NBA relevancy. Ja Morant is the cornerstone who saved the Grizzlies from relocating.
In 1993 Minnesota were involved in attempts for relocation to New Orleans due to problems on the lease at their arena. Local businessman Glen Taylor saved the franchise by purchasing it but the Timberwolves continue to have the worst win percentage of any active team in the NBA.
The Timberwolves are also the third-least valuable franchise in the league above only Memphis and New Orleans making them another NBA team likely to relocate.
Although Taylor saved the franchise from relocating to New Orleans he’s considered one of the worst owners in the NBA by some. Not helping Taylor and the Timberwolves cause is the bad press around Taylor’s other business ventures and the continued oncourt protests.
As Taylor’s ownership comes to an end it doesn’t make things any better. Former baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez and businessman Marc Lore will have the option for majority ownership of the Timberwolves in 2023.
New ownership only raises Minnesota higher on the list of NBA teams most likely to relocate and there’s already been talks that the new owners could relocate the franchise to Seattle.
Long gone are the days of Chris Webber tearing it up in Northern Cali. The Sacramento Kings continue to be one of the NBA teams most likely to relocate. and between 2006 and 2013 the Kings already had one foot out the door.
Sacramento Kings were so close to relocation to Anaheim in 2011 that the Anaheim Royals name was filed for trademark. It was only through miraculous corporate funding and local support that the team stayed in Sacramento.
More cities ready to host the next NBA franchise were swooping in to get the Kings relocated and Virginia Beach were making efforts to bring the franchise over which never eventuated.
A Seattle ownership group had even agreed to purchase the Kings and bring back the Seattle Supersonics brand but it only didn’t go ahead because of last minute Sacramento investors matching the the Seattle offer.
In 2013 the NBA Board of Governors Relocation Committee voted 7-0 against relocating the Kings to Seattle. NBA owners then voted 22-8 against relocation which ended the Seattle relocation bid and a sale was made to a local ownership group instead.
Golden 1 Center which opened in 2016 has only helped to solidify Sacramento’s position in the NBA but the Kings continue to be an NBA team likely to relocate and an ongoing target for the next NBA cities.
The New Orleans Pelicans is the NBA team most likely to relocate. Making the playoffs helped the franchise in 2022 but prior to COVID, New Orleans ranked low for crowd capacity in the NBA:
2019-20: 23rd
2018-19: 25th
2017-18: 25th
2016-17: 24rd
The Pelicans are the second least valuable franchise in the NBA and they have a history of financial issues. At one stage the franchise was even owned by the league. New Orleans continues to struggle with NBA relevancy but as the franchise owner remains Gayle Bensen – who is deeply connected to New Orleans – the Pelicans have a fighting chance.
Bensen also owns the New Orleans Saints, and the Pelicans is a bit more of a side hustle to her NFL team. But how long is she willing to remain one of the lowest valued franchises that continues to lose money?
She may look to cash in on the franchise, because the biggest issue facing the New Orleans Pelicans is that the arena lease at Smoothie King Center finishes up at the end of 2024 meaning New Orleans is top of the list of NBA teams most likely to relocate.
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The Kings are not leaving Sacramento. We still have 30 years on our lease at G1C and we cant be moved before then. Absolute garbage article.