Muddy NBA expansion bid in Las Vegas could slow possible Sonics return

Muddy NBA expansion talks tied to Las Vegas could slow a potential Sonics return to Seattle, as the league’s next major decision window remains uncertain. The NBA’s annual meeting during Summer League in Las Vegas is not expected to deliver major expansion news, despite Commissioner Adam Silver signaling it won’t happen this week. The NBA aims for an answer by the end of the year, while an optimistic scenario for teams to start play in 2028-29 would require decisions by late October. Seattle has stayed a one-bid market, with One Roof Sports and Entertainment the only publicly known group so far. One Roof’s earlier acquisition of controlling interest in Climate Pledge Arena, through a private-public partnership, strengthens its position by requiring other bidders to secure expansion funding and likely a new arena. Behind the scenes, One Roof’s financing is being reviewed by the NBA’s hired financial evaluators, and the umbrella ownership group added investor Melinda French Gates this spring, initially linked to the Kraken.