Real Reason Vancouver is the Next NBA Team

Vancouver deserves an NBA team after they cruelly lost their team in 2001 after only six seasons. The original Grizzlies relocated to Memphis and the city watched on as the neighbouring Toronto Raptors went viral on the back of Vince Carter’s popularity.

Fast forward to today and Vancouver has many reasons why they’re ready for the next NBA expansion or relocation team. They got ripped off by some piss-poor contracts in the past, like paying some bloke called Bryant Reeves $64 million on a 6-year contract

Reeves was on similar money to what Shaq was on at the time and Reeves went on to make zero All-Star appearances, averaged less than 10 points a game and he suffered from weight problems during his career which ultimately led to his retirement after only six seasons in the league.

The Grizzlies while in Vancouver made some woeful draft picks missing out on players like Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki and Vince Carter. Carter of course ended up making Toronto an NBA relevant franchise so that ones gotta burn.

There are 10 cities that could host a team in the league and it’s the Seattle Supersonics who are most peoples favourites to become the next franchise with good reason. Louisville is right behind Seattle as favourites for the next team in the NBA.

Let’s be real though, money is everything in modern sports no matter what anybody else tells you and that’s the reason how Vancouver will become the next NBA team.

Let’s ask the commissioner… pic.twitter.com/sZTDm2RS8g

— Fancouver (@Fancouver_) January 8, 2021

In the days of the Vancouver Grizzlies local businesses didn’t get behind the franchise. Who would though. This was a team that never produced a single NBA All-Star.

But in this day and age it’s all about clout and you’ve got close to fifty billionaires in Vancouver who could front up an NBA expansion fee which costs about $2.5 billion.

Vancouver’s corporate landscape has also changed drastically for the international city. You’ve got global companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Lenovo, Best Buy and EA Sports just to name a few, who are all headquartered in Vancouver.

For potential team owners, clout isn’t going to put food on the table or keep the Lambo in the driveway. Big business will get greedy on their returns too. Fact is, Vancouver is behind only Montreal and San Diego as the largest market in North America with only one major pro sports team.

Armstrong: Canada deserves a second NBA team, WNBA team@OverDrive1050 has MORE: https://t.co/v6u4p4CVAw pic.twitter.com/FrWoZMPGQq

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 20, 2021

It’s a different time since the Grizzlies left Vancouver in 2001. In their debut season home crowds averaged over 17,000 before the city realised they had a sh!thouse team which finished with a 101-359 record.

The population of metropolitan Vancouver has exploded by more than half a million people since then. Owners don’t even need to build a new stadium right away. Just negotiate a lease on the almost 20,000 capacity Rogers Arena and you’re ready to go.

Vancouver is as international and ethnically diverse as Toronto. The Raptors survived with a little but of luck, but Vancouver won’t it this time around. The reason Vancouver will get an NBA team is simple. There’s plenty of cash in the city and plenty of opportunities for owners make their money back and more.

By Sea, Land and Air, We Prosper.