The Athletic NBA Daily
Episode: Should the NBA expand to Seattle and Las Vegas?
Date: March 17, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour (A), Esfandiar Baraheni (B), Special Guest: Dan Woike (C)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on two major storylines: the Atlanta Hawks’ continued winning streak and, primarily, in-depth analysis of breaking NBA expansion news. With the league set to vote on whether to add new franchises—with Seattle and Las Vegas as leading contenders—the hosts and guest Dan Woike (The Athletic's Lakers beat reporter) explore the pros, cons, and repercussions of expansion. The show’s latter half features a robust examination of the Lakers’ resurgence and potential playoff scenarios.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hawks vs. Magic – Atlanta’s Streak Continues

[00:58–02:33]

• The Hawks controlled the game throughout. Jalen Johnson notched a triple-double (24-15-13).
• Nikhil Alexander-Walker exploded for 41 points (9-14 from three).
• Positivity around Hawks’ potential to break into the upper echelon of the East.

Quote
“I think offensively is where you look at the difference here… Nikhil Alexander Walker ended up with 41 points. He was absurd in this game, made nine of his 14 three shots.” — Esfandiar Baraheni [01:17]

NBA Expansion: Seattle & Las Vegas

[02:33–11:41]

Why Expansion Now?

• The league is poised for a Board of Governors vote after closing the lucrative new TV deal.
• Dave: “Getting the new TV deal out of the way allows them to then move on to this part of it.” [02:52]

Seattle: The No-Brainer

• Consensus that any expansion must include Seattle.
• “If they’re going to do one team, it’s got to be Seattle. And if it’s two, one has to be Seattle. So that one's done.” — Dave DuFour [03:45]

The Las Vegas Debate

• Vegas’s growing sports profile (Aces, Knights, incoming MLB A’s, NBA Cup, Summer League).
• Human dynamic: Is it exciting for fans or does it water down Vegas’s ‘neutral’ NBA status?
• “From a business standpoint, it makes sense for the NBA to have a Vegas team… but from a fan perspective, I’ve always enjoyed the fact that Vegas was a neutral site.” — Esfandiar Baraheni [04:43]

Alternative Expansion Cities

• Kansas City, Louisville, Montreal, Vancouver, Mexico City discussed.
• Montreal and Vancouver praised for basketball culture; Mexico City’s logistics and security cited as drawbacks.
  • “Montreal would be interesting. I think…grassroots Montreal probably has some of the best Canadian basketball out there right now.” — Esfandiar Baraheni [06:15]

International Aspirations & Talent Pool Worries

• The possibility of NBA Europe is briefly mentioned.
• Expansion risks—does the league possess the talent depth for two extra teams?
  • “Is the talent pool there…isn’t there a risk you’re watering things down?” — Dave DuFour [07:42]
  • “There are enough good basketball players to add 30 more [roster spots].” — Esfandiar Baraheni [08:51]
  • “Good is not NBA, though. And there is a difference.” — Dave DuFour [08:53]
  • Noted that expansion creates new max contract slots, could quickly shake up the free agency landscape.

Structural Change Opportunities

• Expansion as a moment to reduce the regular-season game count (from 82 to, say, 76 games).
• “If you can get it down from 82 games, maybe it’s worth adding more players. And…you get them down to 76 games or something like that.” — Dave DuFour [10:51]

Lakers’ Surge & Playoff Prospects (with Dan Woike)

[12:46–30:17]

Recap: Win Over Houston Rockets

[13:12–13:51]

• Ugly offensive outing; Lakers’ defense and Luka Doncic’s late-game scoring made the difference.
• Deandre Ayton’s late-game minutes commended for trust, sacrifice, and adaptation.

Quote
“That’s what’s been weird… it’s been kind of like bizarro Lakers in some ways from a lot of what we thought about them earlier in the year.” — Dan Woike [13:31]

Team Chemistry, Trust & Roles

• Lakers are “starting to trust one another”—chemistry fueled by time, acceptance of new roles, and sacrifice.
• Deandre Ayton and LeBron James highlighted for new-found team-first attitudes.
  • “You had the NBA’s all-time leading scorer diving for a loose [ball]… That is huge.” — Dan Woike [17:27]
• Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura praised for embracing difficult roles.

Quote
“They still have problems… But you know, I used to say like their pathway to quote-unquote contention… you had to really squint to see it. I think… you can open your eyes a little bit.” — Dan Woike [27:23]

Shifting Narrative & Playoff Matchups

• Lakers have erased the underdog stigma with recent wins over New York, Minnesota, and Denver.
• Residual skepticism due to inconsistent early-season performance and perception as a “house of cards” candidate.
• “They’re winning coin flip games against teams with as good a records, and a lot of it’s been defense…” — Dave DuFour [19:58]
• Lakers’ zone defense now a bona fide weapon; highlighted as a shift from last year’s approach.

Luka Doncic as MVP?

• Despite leading in scoring, Luka’s MVP case overshadowed by December struggles and perceptions around team inconsistency.
  • “I think he had a bad December or a bad…month at a time when the team kind of stunk.” — Dan Woike [21:28]

Playoff Foes: Who Do the Lakers Want?

• Minnesota (3-0 against Timberwolves this season) and Houston eyed as favorable matchups.
• “It never felt like impossible to me that this team would play in the 3-6 or the 4-5 and win… they have Luka, Austin Reeves, and LeBron James.” — Dan Woike [26:15]

Defensive Energy & Postseason Outlook

• Emphasis on defensive scrambles, energy tax, and how Lakers’ style may be better suited for longevity this year.
  • “There are elements of their defense now that are built around this, like, sort of covering for one another, playing with effort… but this doesn’t feel as taxing right now.” — Dan Woike [30:09]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Seattle’s inevitability as an expansion city:
  “If they're going to do one team, it's got to be Seattle. And if it's going to [be] two teams, one of them has to be Seattle. So that one's done.” — Dave DuFour [03:45]

• On Vegas’s shifting NBA identity:
  “I've always enjoyed the fact that Vegas was a neutral site… Like, this is the one area where there is no rooting interest. Now, that being said, Lakers fans change that.” — Esfandiar Baraheni [04:43]

• On the risks of expansion diluting quality:
  “Good is not NBA, though. And there is a difference… Those NBA guys are so—they are so different,” — Dave DuFour [08:53]

• On Lakers’ chemistry improvements:
  “They're starting to just—it’s starting to make some sense. They still have problems… but you know, I used to say like their pathway to contention, you had to really squint to see it. I think … you can open your eyes a little bit.” — Dan Woike [27:23]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Atlanta Hawks recap: 00:58–02:33
• NBA Expansion Deep Dive: 02:33–11:41
• Lakers’ win over Houston & team dynamics: 12:46–20:37
• Playoff talk, Lakers’ defense, and Luka MVP candidacy: 20:37–30:09

Memorable Moments

• Esfandiar “eating crow” about Atlanta's success after previously doubting them.
• Spirited debate on what makes a city suitable for the NBA and the legacy of “neutral” sites like Vegas.
• Lively back-and-forth on league talent saturation and how expansion draft mechanics could spread out depth.
• Shout-outs to players accepting unheralded roles—Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura in particular.
• Dan Woike’s anecdote about Deandre Ayton’s journey from would-be offensive centerpiece to crucial role player.

Summary

This episode provides a thorough, nuanced look at the NBA’s looming expansion—centering on Seattle’s inevitability, Las Vegas’s business rationale, and the existential question of whether the league’s talent pool is deep enough to sustain 32 teams. The second half artfully weaves in recent league action, highlighting the Lakers’ resurgence, the chemistry-building process, and candidly interrogating both statistical and intangible factors in their playoff hopes. This lively conversation gives listeners insight into not just what’s happening in the NBA, but why it matters and what comes next.