While the OKC Thunder are projected to be amongst the most dominant Western Conference forces in the coming years, the title won't come without challengers. The Spurs already claimed the top spot for the time being, and numerous teams lurk in the shadows awaiting their shot.
The recent push to expand the league to 32 teams, however, could inadvertently make Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company's path back to Western Conference supremacy a whole lot easier. With the two new franchises likely joining the Western Conference, two current teams would be pushed over to the East. One of those, potentially, would be legitimate Thunder threat, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The decision has been gaining traction ever since the NBA Board of Governors voted to explore expansion bids in Las Vegas and Seattle back in late March. Both cities are located on or near the West Coast, leaving commissioner Adam Silver no choice but to move other teams around to make room.
The move would be a massive shift in competitiveness from one conference to the other. Led by superstar Anthony Edwards, the Wolves have made the playoffs in five straight seasons and have been one of the last four Western Conference teams remaining in each of the past three.
Thunder would trade championship contender for bottom feeders
In place of Minnesota and one other team would be two brand-new franchises.
The last time an expansion team was added to the league was back in 2004-05 when the Charlotte Bobcats went 18-64 in their first season. Their next few seasons didn't go much better. In fact, it took them six years to secure a winning record and reach the playoffs.
Before that, it was the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies, whom the league added back in 1995-96. They won 21 and 15 games respectively in their inaugural seasons.
With the lack of competency among first-year teams, the talent in the West could grow even more consolidated than it already was this year, where the top two teams had at least eight more wins than every other team in the conference.
Aside from the Utah Jazz, the West hasn't exactly had any perennial bottom-feeders. But if the two new franchises were to join in a few years, the top teams could be presented with an even easier route to the postseason and beyond.
Silver mentioned that, while the expansion is hardly a done deal, he hopes to have a decision made by the end of the 2026.
Given the success, or lack thereof, of other previous expansion teams, rooting for a Wolves' migration to the Eastern Conference will likely be a common sentiment among Thunder fans.
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