Since the turn of the decade, Adam Silver‘s NBA front office had a clear road map in front of them. Collective Bargaining Agreement – done. NBA’s historical TV deal – almost done barring some late interference. And lastly, the highly anticipated NBA expansion. With two out of three almost chalked off, all eyes will now turn towards Adam Silver’s “worst kept secret” including a set of eyes belonging to LeBron James.

“I think we will engage this fall, in earnest, in the process of making those determinations — should we expand and if we were to expand, how many teams should we expand,” Silver said previously about the potential expansion. Interjecting the “how” and “if” the commissioner tried to create an illusion, but it was too late for that. Everyone now definitely knows that a team or two are on their way to join the league. When? That depends on variables, with one being LeBron’s retirement.

To make sense of the situation, everyone’s trusted insider, Keith Smith, devoted his time to his NBA Front Office podcast to unravel the not-so-secret proceedings of the expansion situation. “They’re gonna expand. I mean, it’s kind of the, worst kept secret in the NBA right now is that they will expand…My guess is they’ll start the process this fall like Adam Silver said, but then, really, it’ll probably be a minimum of a year or 2 of sorting out the process, putting everything together, taking all the bids, ultimately selecting, the 2 teams, and then we’ll probably get into it,” Smith said. “So you’re certainly not gonna see a team, start playing next season, which would be the 25/26 season. We’re already counting 24/25 as this season.”

The new TV deal will be kicking in at the start of the 25/26 season. So starting proceedings for the expansion should take at least two more seasons. “So you won’t see a team next season maybe, 26/27, but probably more likely 27/28. And that’d mean the expansion draft and all of the processes that go along with that would very likely happen in the summer of 2027. That is my guess,” Smith concluded. Now, interestingly, LeBron James, a potential expansion team buyer, has been vocal about his desire to buy a franchise and has a contract with the Lakers till the 25/26 season. So if we connect the dots, that’ll give us a better timeline of what can happen in the expansion scenario.

LeBron James’ retirement to align with NBA expansion

Has LeBron James put a date on his retirement? Not yet. But with his goal of playing with Bronny James on course for fulfillment, the 39-year-old doesn’t have much on his bucket list. What he has in mind is about his life after on-court action. His current Lakers contract will run out in 25/26, and even if he signs an extension after that or moves to another team, he’ll have a similar contract on a year-to-year basis. As soon as the expansion talk gathers force, expect that’ll be the end of the road for LeBron as no active player can buy a franchise.

According to rumors, LeBron is expected to make a bid for the projected $7bn expansion team in Las Vegas. His buddy Rich Paul has already backed out of the prospect of being an owner by saying, “I don’t want to be an owner, just to be clear,” during a recent episode of the Pivot Podcast. But that won’t matter much as RedBird Capital Partners and Fenway Sports Group back the 4-time NBA champ. So expect LeBron to be in the thick of things once the expansion saga begins, and if you’re a devoted fan of the King, it’s high time to enjoy the last few years of his rule.

What do you think about the potential NBA expansion and LeBron James’ future role as an owner? Share your thoughts in the comments below.