6 Long-lost franchises the NBA needs to breathe life back into

Rumors have swirled in recent years that the NBA may soon look to expand beyond 30 teams, with a couple of cities already being the favorites to land a new franchise. Despite that, there are plenty of other options, and the NBA shouldn't hesitate to look back through their history for inspiration.

In fact, there are quite a few defunct NBA and ABA teams that should be considered if the NBA is seriously planning expansion in the near future. With plenty of once-forgotten teams to choose from, let's take a look at six one-time teams that should get another chance at life with expansion.

6) St. Louis Bombers 

The St. Louis Bombers were one of the earliest professional basketball teams and were a part of the Basketball Association of America (BAL), the precursor to the NBA. When the BAL merged with the National Basketball League ahead of the 1950 season, the Bombers folded, and their players were scooped up by other teams in a dispersal draft.

So why, after more than 70 years, should the league look to bring back the Bombers? The most obvious answer is that Missouri is too large of a state to go without a team. In fact, Missouri has more than six million people, making it one of the 20 largest states in the country based on population. However, it is one of just two of those states not to have a professional basketball team.

The NFL previously had the St. Louis Rams before they left for Los Angeles. Meanwhile, MLB has the Cardinals, who are one of the most successful teams in North American sports history. If two other sports leagues had teams in one city, it implies that it is plenty big enough for the NBA to put a team there.

If they do, then they should bring back the Bombers nickname for nostalgia's sake. Never mind that it is a fantastic name for a basketball team, especially in today's 3-point-heavy era. It's time to make this happen, Adam Silver.