Wyc Grousbeck’s $6 Billion Celtics Sale Could Trigger Adam Silver’s Expansion Plans Amid Unrest Between Conferences 

With the turn of the year, the NBA could step into a new era, and the Celtics’ sale will be the first chapter in it. That won’t be a bad start, considering the estimated $6 billion price tag dangling from the Shamrocks. It could also mean Adam Silver will be ready to make some changes, and yes, it is about expanding the league.

According to reports, the Celtics’ sale could be concluded in the early stages of next year with bidding starting in January. The Grousbeck family’s 30% ownership is the largest stake of any shareholder. While Wyc Grousbeck’s reign has brought back the Celtics its lost glory recently, the Collective Bargaining Agreement is making things harder with each passing day. So much so, that it might cause the disbanding of the team in the near future and Wyc wouldn’t like to do that himself.

The plan is simple – don’t get vilified for making the hard choice and let the new ownership do that. “Estate and family consideration” were the official words of the Grousbecks, but it was reported that the spending spree did not please Irv Grousbeck, leading to his decision to sell.

Now, we’re finally in the endgame for the Celtics and that could massively benefit Adam Silver’s expansion plans. How so? According to Tim Bontemps, “One bellwether on that topic is expected to be the sale of the Celtics, which the franchise has said it hopes to have completed by the early part of next year. Sources have maintained for some time that the price Boston sells for could help play a role in determining how quickly expansion moves along and whether it is the right time to pursue it.”

With the names of Las Vegas and Seattle in the mix for the expansion teams, the selling price for the Celtics can indicate the value of a new franchise. With the price settled, bidding can be opened to make the process faster, giving Silver room to make official announcements about the expansion.

As of now, Adam Silver has refrained from making a clear statement on the “complex” matter. But there has been growing belief in the league that the commissioner might have a more difficult matter to address.

Adam Silver could be facing tough questions amid growing discontent among NBA teams

The ratings of the NBA have been a growing concern among the league. Even after pulling out all the stops with a LeBron James vs Stephen Curry battle on Christmas Day, the NBA has fallen flat on its face against the NFL. One of the major reasons for these ratings spiraling down is the perceived lack of competitiveness in the league.

The imbalance of star power has made the Western Conference a tougher battleground compared to the Eastern Conference. According to Bontemps, “As a result, league sources told ESPN that calls from teams pushing for 1-through-16 seeding in the playoffs (or a similar change) are expected to get louder even if nothing changes. Such a revision would require half of the East to vote in favor, with many middling teams voting against their best interests. No one we spoke with expects that to change.”

Surely the Eastern sides will favor an easier route to the playoffs and they won’t be in favor of changing that. But the addition of two new franchises can force Adam Silver to rethink. He previously talked about how adding more teams to the mix dilutes the player pool. So, to level the field, a major shakeup in the conference format could be the next step forward.

The new NBA All-Star format already has a golden handshake with the tradition. But will Adam Silver be bold enough to implement that in the league as well? Keeping an eye on the development could provide the only answer as 2025 is already looking to be an interesting year.