OT: NBA Returning to Seattle?

[Pharmabro]

I was once really into the sonics. That was 20 years ago. The slime balls stole them Bennett, Stern. I can still remember when a Seattle reporter asked Stern about the possibility of an expansion team coming to Seattle? And STern gets this shit-eating-grin and pops off with “ I don’t have time to take that question I need to leave to get to a playoff game in OKC!”

20 years on there it’s no more love for “bring back our Sonics”. I have not watched the NBA for more than a few fleeting seconds at an airport lounge in 20 years.

F the NBA was my reply.

[auroraave]

I had a blog about all of this - while the Sonics hijack was underway - I rememeber a LOT of what happened and just how shitty Bennett and the new owners were to the Sonics fans - ALL spearheaded by Stern. Just a few things they did to drive fans away...

Took the Sonics games off the radio station they had been on for 40 years.
Demanded a new stadium - on land that wasn't even available.
Fired off Lenny Wilkins and all staff memebers with Sonics ties.
Stopped promoting games.
Press gaga on players who because they didn't want to go to OKC.
Traded away all the good players.
Orchestrated the worst team in franchise history.
HIted PJ Carlisomo - worst hire in franchise history... by design.
All of this was done to drive fans away - so they could say 'look they don't support the team' They destroyed the franchise - while complaining the fans didn't support what they were doing. I've seen some shitty things in sports - but this may be the worst. Iconic franchise destroyed because the commissioner had a grudge against a city that would not finance a new arena - 8 years after rebuilding the current one.

All orchestrated by the greatest scumbag in sports - David Stern.

And this before we get into how bad the games are and how corrupted the league is. What possible benefit could this brinbg to the great fans of Seattle - the ones they already fucked over as hard as they possibly could. How proposterously expensive will the games be? This is like losing your girlfriend to a gangbang that goes viral and then someone asking if you want her back. Hell. Fucking. No.

NBA in Seattle? Are you fucking kidding me? Kinda funny how the league absolutely fucks seattle fans over, then comes slinking back to try and take more money from you. The fucking audacity.

[Michael K.]

Well said AA. I won't spend one dime. And I still have a Sonics sign in my office, and tee shirts that I still wear. But I won't support this slime ball organization in one single bit. Not to mention, as I said before, what fucking talent are we going to get? They stole all of that from us, the opportunity to see this organization go from the Glove and Reign Man to Durant, Westbrook and Harden. And? A second ring from last year. I also believe 100% if not for Karma and a Dust Bowl city that didn't deserve it? They don't blow the 3 to 2 lead to Golden State, and the second ring comes even sooner.

[Donn Beach]

And the league is going to make a killing bringing back the sonics, as if it was planned

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Had the Sonics remained in Seattle they wouldn't have hired Sam Presti, who is widely considered one of the best GMs in the NBA. Who knows how they would have done, but it's unlikely they would have been to three Finals and won a championship with Wally Walker or some other clown pulling the strings.

[Donn Beach]

Had the Sonics remained in Seattle they wouldn't have hired Sam Presti, who is widely considered one of the best GMs in the NBA. Who knows how they would have done, but it's unlikely they would have been to three Finals and won a championship with Wally Walker or some other clown pulling the strings.

Presti was hired before the team was moved, if the team isn't allowed to relocate then he's running it in Seattle

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Well, Clay wouldn't gave bought the team if he wasn't sure he could move it. If it gets sold to someone else like Ballmer who knows who he hires to run the team.

[Donn Beach]

I don't think he could be assured he could move it. He bought them intending to try. It turned on the arena issue. If the city hadn't settled the law suit and pushed harder for an arena deal who knows.

Prestis first draft a year before the move was approved

Entering the 2007 NBA draft, the Sonics were transitioning into a rebuilding phase following a 31–51 record in the 2006-07 season. On draft night, Presti completed his first trade by acquiring Jeff Green, the 5th overall pick in a blockbuster trade involving Sonics guard Ray Allen. Green joined Kevin Durant, the 2nd overall pick, in Seattle as Presti's first two draftees in his career. Presti then signed-and-traded Sonics forward Rashard Lewis in exchange for a second-round pick and a trade exception worth $9 million. To fill in the trade exception, Presti acquired Kurt Thomas and two future first-round picks, one of the picks becoming future Thunder forward Serge Ibaka.[

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Clay already had Stern's blessing to move the team otherwise the sale to him wouldn't have been allowed. The city wasn't going to help pay for an Arena upgrade (or new arena) either. If you don't believe those things then i don't know what to tell you. We're just going to have to disagree.

[Donn Beach]

Clay already had Stern's blessing to move the team otherwise the sale to him wouldn't have been allowed. The city wasn't going to help pay for an Arena upgrade (or new arena) either. If you don't believe those things then i don't know what to tell you. We're just going to have to disagree.

I'm not disagreeing but I don't think Sterns could guarantee to Clay that he could move the team. It wasn't really the city it turned on, it was the state. The state legislature rejected both Clay's proposal for an arena as well as Balmer's.