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 Tuesday 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 .

NBA team owners authorized league officials to begin an in-depth analysis regarding expansion on Tuesday, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver said there was no timetable for any changes.The NBA Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday marked the first time team owners officially discussed expanding the league beyond 30 teams,