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NBA Expansion – Here’s how it should go down in the near future

By Shawn P. O’Connor

TARRYTOWN, NY - JULY 27: Kevin Durant #35 and Jeff Green #22 of the Seattle SuperSonics, Taureen Green and Josh McRoberts of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Michael Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies pose for a portrait during the 2007 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 27, 2007 at the MSG Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - JULY 27: Kevin Durant #35 and Jeff Green #22 of the Seattle SuperSonics, Taureen Green and Josh McRoberts of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Michael Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies pose for a portrait during the 2007 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 27, 2007 at the MSG Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Western Conference

Northwest Division

The Northwest division is perhaps the most intriguing division in the expanded NBA. Along with the Seattle Supersonics, the Northwest Division will include two 2018 playoff teams in the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz, as well as the Denver Nuggets.

Although the Northwest Division is still the most expansive division, realignment has cut nearly 500 miles off the longest trip in the division. In the original Northwest Division, the Blazers had to fly nearly 1,500 miles to play the Oklahoma City Thunder. The average trip in the division is 640 miles, with the longest trip sitting at just over 1,000 miles from Seattle and Denver.

California Division

The California Division includes California teams from the old Pacific Division. That encompasses the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

This division is the tidiest in the Western Conference, with an average travel distance of 245 miles. The division is dominated by the Warriors, but these teams were the top four teams in the Pacific Division. Also, any marquee free agent move to the Lakers makes them a stronger competitor.

Central Division

The Central Division is a mismatch of teams from each of the three former Western conference divisions, plus the new Kansas City Knights. The Northwest Division sends the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacific Division sends the Phoenix Suns, and the Southwest Division sends the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Central Division is very evenly spread out, with all division stadiums located less than 680 miles from each other. The average trip for a division game is only 450 miles, therefore continuing the trend of tidy divisions in the NBA.

South Division

The South division is loaded, featuring two 2018 Western Conference playoff teams in the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets. The Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks join them.

Although the average division game requires an average travel distance of 570 miles, Phoenix balloons this average. Excluding the Suns, the longest division trip is only 250 miles. The problem of Phoenix’s extensive travel can be solved with Texas trips for the Suns, where the team plays all three of its division rivals on one road trip.