Putting the Bal in Baltimore: An NBA 2k20 Expansion Franchise

[MountUrCastle]

BREAKING: NBA announces league expansion, 2 teams to be added over the span of 2 years

Earlier this morning, the NBA announced it's formal plans to expand the league to 32 teams over the course of the 2019-20 and the 2020-21 seasons, citing continual growth and a desire to re-enter the Maryland market. The NBA also confirmed in their presser that the first team was rewarded to the city of Baltimore, and an ownership group headed off by local billionaire Bernard Saul II who is expected to provide most of the financial firepower behind the team. Alongside Saul II, Michael Phelps and other famous figures from Maryland are apparently aiding in the acquisition of the team, although it remains to be seen in what capacity.

The ownership group has yet to reveal a team name or logo. Many speculate that the team may take the mantle of the former ABA team, the Baltimore Bullets, although reportedly great consideration has been given to other names, such as the Hustlers, the Barons, the Blizzards, the Bombers, and the Admirals. Finally, the league has not released the details of the other city awarded expansion. Many suggest that the team would have to be in the West, to bring balance to the conferences, but league sources suggest that an eastern expansion atop Baltimore could cause a reorganization of the conferences.

[MountUrCastle]

Baltimore Announces Team name, logo, uniform + Expansion Draft details revealed

Today the NBA’s newest team made it official, they will be known as the Baltimore Blue Crabs when they take the ice at the ABS Arena for the 2019-20 season. The league’s 31st franchise made the announcement via a video live-streamed to the team’s official website and social media channels. They will be the first expansion team to join the NBA since the New Orleans Pelicans in 2002. Boasting a snazzy Blue Night Blue/Aviator Blue/Golden Yellow color scheme, the Blue Crabs touch on Maryland's prominent crabbing history and Baltimore's prestigious crab dishes. Additionally, Crabs have claws, a popular term for hands on a basketball. The main team logo features the design of a crab with the body reminiscent of the lining on a basketball.

Additionally, the league also revealed the rules for the upcoming expansion draft. Teams will be allowed to protect 9 players in the expansion draft, with no limit on how many players can be protected in one position. The expansion draft is scheduled for September 15th. The expansion draft should mark the start of getting the rest of the organization lined up, as the fledgling franchise still needs to hire a head coach as well as an assistant.