At the Board of Governors meeting Tuesday in Las Vegas, Silver told reporters that league owners instructed the NBA to conduct an in-depth analysis of its options. It is a small yet important box to check on the extensive to-do list that comes with league expansion and could get the ball rolling for a 31st team to enter the picture.

Saying owners have a “curiosity” about the notion, Commissioner Adam Silver said this week that the league will now study the issue more formally as part of an in-depth analysis, which would be the first official move in a long process toward adding franchises.

Following a Board of Governors meeting, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the differences in parity and the concept of dynasties. The Golden State Warriors were the last back-to-back NBA champions when they added Kevin Durant. But since then, about every team has had moments when they felt like they were close to glory.