There has been a lot of buzz around the NBA expanding to 32 teams. Per Shams Charania, the board of governors approved a vote to explore bids for new franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas. Simply adding two new teams is an exciting time for all NBA fans.
However, without a doubt, the Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the teams that will benefit from expansion the most. That is because, along with the Memphis Grizzlies, they are considered primary candidates to move to the Eastern Conference, as the NBA would have to realign conferences by adding two teams out West.
Last week, Charania also noted that the Wolves are considered the most likely team to switch conferences given their proximity to teams in the East. It's not far-fetched to say that the Timberwolves switching conferences could change their ability to compete for a championship.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are already two dominant juggernauts, and they're extremely young. That's not even accounting for the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, who both have a top-five player in the NBA. Thus, the path to winning in the West is slim. In the East, there are simply no teams as dominant and well-positioned for future success as the Thunder and Spurs.
Switching conferences would benefit the Timberwolves
Now, it's important to note that despite the bidding process beginning, the NBA isn't targeting adding these two franchises until the 2028-29 season. Meaning the Timberwolves will likely have to spend at least two more seasons in the West. And still it's not guaranteed that they'll move to the East.
Nevertheless, the Thunder and Spurs aren't going anywhere, and the Timberwolves will welcome a possible move to the East in 2028. Of course, there are still good teams in the East, namely the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, the Cavs and Knicks have a fairly short title window. The Pistons are on the younger side, but they still don't have a co-star for Cade Cunningham. This year has proven that the Celtics are the class of the East, but they aren't a true unbeatable juggernaut.
If the Timberwolves were in the East this year, they might very well be the favorites. And with Anthony Edwards still being just 24 years old, they are positioned to have a long-term title window. A lot can change come 2028, but within all likelihood, the Timberwolves will have a clearer path to a championship if they switch conferences.
Beyond the basketball advantages, the Wolves typically travel among the most miles each year. The reduced travel impact could also help the Wolves have more regular season success.
Ultimately, there are still a lot of moving pieces, but this update is good news for Wolves fans and might mark the beginning of the franchise switching conferences.