The NBA could open up expansion bidding once a new collective bargaining agreement is in place.

Seattle has been without a franchise since the Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008 and would figure to be a leading candidate to receive an expansion team.

Louisville, Pittsburgh, Omaha, Las Vegas, Vancouver and Mexico City are other candidates for a team.

The NBA's new television contract reportedly has expansion escalators that would further incentivize the league to add teams on top of the expansion fee though they would have two additional revenue partners.