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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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BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: Lebron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is guarded by Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of a game at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: Lebron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is guarded by Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of a game at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Eastern Conference

Midwest Division

The Midwest division plays host to the only team changing conferences in the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota as a result joins three former Central Division teams in the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks.

This division is strong, featuring the eighth seed in the Western Conference and fifth and seventh seeds in the Eastern Conference. Like most of the Eastern Conference, the Midwest Division is also tightly packed, with only 275 miles traveled on the average division trip.

Metropolitan Division

The Metropolitan Division is a patchwork of top level teams from the East. It includes the Toronto Raptors from the former Atlantic Division, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons from the former Central Division, and the Washington Wizards from the former Southeast Division.

The division is stacked, featuring the first, fourth, and eighth seed from the 2018 Eastern Conference Playoffs, as well as the first team out in the Detroit Pistons. The Metropolitan Division is another easily traveled one, with the average trip spanning only 255 miles.

Northeast Division

The Northeast Division includes four of the five teams in the former Atlantic division. It is composed of the second seeded Boston Celtics and the third seeded Philadelphia 76ers, along with developing franchises in the Now York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets.

The Northeast Division is the most condensed division in the NBA, with only 140 miles between the average stadium sites. Smaller divisions mean more annual meetings between division foes, and who doesn’t want to see more Boston-Philadelphia matchups?

Southeast Division

The new Southeast Division includes four of the five original Southeast division teams in the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Atlanta Hawks. Miami is the only 2018 playoff team in the group. Therefore this division is likely the weakest in the league.

Teams in this division will also have to travel a ways for divisional games, with an average division trip covering 425 miles. This, however, is still less than the average distance a Western Conference team has to travel for a division game in the new NBA (430 miles).