From Insider:

There was plenty of feedback from disgruntled T-Wolves fans who want in the Eastern Conference while the getting's good. Paul Swanson of Milwaukee has an interesting realignment proposal that, unfortunately for T-Wolves and Grizzlies fans, doesn't get either of them away from Shaq. But it does achieve geographical alignment in the same six-division format that is already used in baseball and the NFL. With the NBA likely to award a team to Charlotte as early as 2003, all the NBA needs to do is move New Orleans to the West to achieve numerical balance between the two conferences. Here's Swanson's proposal:

Eastern Conference
Atlantic -- Boston, New Jersey, New York, Toronto, Philadelphia
Central -- Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee
Southeast -- Atlanta, *Charlotte, Miami, Orlando, Washington
Western Conference
Midwest -- Dallas, Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, San Antonio
Pacific -- Golden State, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Phoenix, Sacramento
Northwest -- Denver, Minnesota, Portland, Seattle, Utah


Paul's right. This proposal is the only way to get the NBA accurately aligned properly. I can't really see another way to re-draw the lines. The only real loser here is the T-Wolves, who still get left out in the Northwest even though they'd be a whopping 900 miles from their closest opponent: Denver. Of course, if you think that's a big road trip, wait until David Stern puts a team in London or Berlin? Stern told the press Tuesday that the logistics of playing overseas (if the NBA expands there) isn't an issue. "Travel, I think, is less of a problem depending upon how many franchises you might have located there. Because the trip from New York to London or Paris, depending upon the mode of transportation, could be quite a bit faster than the trip from New York to L.A. or Seattle or Portland. Once there, you could wind up playing some, you know, you might do a back-to-back or play your games depending on how many cities were there." Sure, David, but exactly how many teams are located in New York? There are about six teams -- the Knicks, Nets, Celtics, Raptors, Sixers and Wizards -- that have a convenient trip overseas. Those Lakers road trips, on the other hand, will be a royal pain in the Shaq.

I think realighment would be great. All this hinges on Charlotte getting a team. When do you think they will impose this. I also heard that Minnesota wants out of the west. That would be a good move for them they would finally get out of the first round.