The NBA world continues to await the arrival of new expansion franchises. It has been 21 years since the Charlotte Bobcats entered the league, and, incidentally, the now-Charlotte Hornets may be a reason why the NBA doesn't have expansion plans atop its priorities.
A key name to watch in the possible addition of new clubs is LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has been vocal about his desire to own an NBA franchise in Las Vegas, although the last time his opinion about the matter made rounds was more than a year ago.
It appears James might tread a different path, as his childhood friend and business partner Maverick Carter has been linked to a plan to create a new basketball league that would rival the Association.
What's the plan?
Last January, there were reports about Carter working with investors to possibly establish a $5 billion league, with parts of the funds supposedly coming from Saudi Arabia and Singapore. A lot of pundits dismissed the idea at the time, especially the thought that James would be heavily involved in the project.
However, Bill Simmons said on a recent episode of his podcast that the whispers he has heard are that the plan is "kinda real." Apparently, the investors can soon finance the creation of at least six teams, and all James has to do is bring in a handful of stars whose contracts will have expired, perhaps to be the faces of the new league.
Simmons even brought up LeBron's Lakers teammate Luka Doncic as a possible superstar who could jump ship. His contract will end in the summer of 2026, and per The Ringer founder, Doncic already has experience with how loyalty can sometimes take a backseat to harsh business decisions in the NBA. Simmons offered an interesting scenario that could help entice the Slovenian phenom to join the rumored league, saying, "Hey, Luka, here's $100 million a year. You're playing a 35-game season."
What does LaMelo Ball have to do with it?
Of course, everything is still speculation at this point. Developing a new league, especially one that intends to compete with the NBA, is easier said than done.
Still, it's hard not to wonder whether someone like LaMelo Ball would consider transferring if the grass were indeed greener on the other side and once his contract is up. We can only imagine how tempting it would be for the Hornets star to get paid potentially double his salary in the NBA to play a season with a length that isn't even half as long as an NBA campaign.
With Ball having had to deal with injury issues for a third consecutive season, the opportunity to suit up in a league that would be favorable for his health would be something he just can't ignore.
Only time will tell if James and Carter push through with the purported plan and if Ball would even weigh up leaving a league as prestigious as the NBA. Just keep in mind that the 23-year-old star isn't afraid to take the road less traveled, as evidenced by his decision to skip college, which brought him to Lithuania, his father's short-lived Junior Basketball Association, and Australia before declaring for the NBA draft in 2020.