We are one step closer to having two more teams added to the Western Conference. This morning, Shams Charania reported that the NBA will hold a vote next week to potentially add expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. If approved, the aim is for both franchises to start playing in the 2028-29 season.
In order to ensure that both conferences have 16 teams, one team from the Western Conference would have to move to the Eastern Conference. Shams Charania also stated that executives expect one of the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to end up in the Eastern Conference once expansion is approved.
The Grizzlies moving to the Eastern Conference would have plenty of benefits. However, as great as it would be for Memphis fans, the Timberwolves have a very strong case to join the Eastern Conference and could end up being moved instead.
The case for the Timberwolves is very strong
Even though the Grizzlies have a strong case due to geographical location, the same can also be argued for the Timberwolves. When looking at a map, the Timberwolves are very isolated from the Western Conference. They are also in closer proximity to multiple Eastern Conference teams, such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls.
It is difficult to project how good the Timberwolves and Grizzlies will be by the 2028-29 season; however, there is certainly appeal to putting a star like Anthony Edwards in the Eastern Conference. Even though Edwards has made the Western Conference finals twice, it would not be shocking for the NBA to consider the best strategic path for him to make the NBA finals.
The Grizzlies still remain a logical team to move to the East
There are still multiple factors that are working in the Grizzlies' favor. With the 2025-26 schedule, the Grizzlies ranked the 3rd highest in the NBA with team travel mileage at 49,941. In comparison, Minnesota ranked 11th highest in the league with 45,393. However, it is extremely important to note that the Grizzlies played overseas in Berlin and London, while Minnesota did not.
Geographically, there are still multiple factors that heavily favor the case for putting the Grizzlies in the Eastern Conference. First, the city of Memphis sits east of the Mississippi River, while most of Minneapolis sits west of the river. Another factor to consider is that some of Tennessee is in the Eastern time zone, whereas that is not the case for Minnesota.
Even though the Grizzlies being in the Eastern Conference would be highly beneficial for the franchise, there is significant competition from the Timberwolves. It will be very interesting to see how the conference realignment plays out. For now, Memphis fans should not fully bank on the team ending up in the Eastern Conference.