SuperSonics

[PeteCanes]

I'm not really a big fan of the NBA by any means, but I've always kinda liked the Sonics. Good teams, cool uni's, lots of tradition. They've been in Seattle for 41 years, and I hate to see teams leave an area after being there for such a long time. And they are going to move to Oklahoma City? Wtf?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200.../04/14/sonics/

A real shame.

[BaltimoreTerp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3350289

David Stern might be the Godfather, but he's pissing off the wrong people.

[BaltimoreTerp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/column...t&lid=tab5pos2

Recommended reading. Sounds like there is an outside chance of stopping the defrauding of the fans of Seattle by Clay Bennett.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Keep the Sonics in Seattle......please.

[NewMarketSean]

I'd like a new major league sized arena too, but I don't know if the local economy could support the NBA. Increased gas prices are hurting the O's... no doubt it would hurt a potential NBA team and their $45 minumum priced tickets.

[mweb]

I'd like a new major league sized arena too, but I don't know if the local economy could support the NBA. Increased gas prices are hurting the O's... no doubt it would hurt a potential NBA team and their $45 minumum priced tickets.

The Lakers have tickets for $10, $27, and $38, and I'm pretty sure a Baltimore team would have quite a bit cheaper tickets than the Lakers. But yeah, I don't think the NBA in Baltimore is a great idea.

[BaltimoreTerp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3365972

Clay, buddy, can't you clean out your damn inbox?

[mweb]

That's great about the median income, but the city itself is not nearly as affluent. Plus, the two current major pro sport teams do not have high ticket prices(could be wrong about the Ravens, but I think they are about average), and part of the reason why the Lakers tickets are so high is their years of success and Kobe. It's also an established great NBA market, unlike Baltimore. A new team to Baltimore likely wouldn't be that good or have a superstar. So I stand by my statement.

[mweb]

The metro area is plenty affluent... ticket prices, and attendance is of little merit to any arguement... only thing that matters is the skyboxes...

I didn't bring up ticket prices, was just correcting a factual error make by Sean.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Reports are that the Sonics and Seattle have reached an agreement where the team will pay up to $75 million ($45 million if the city gets another team) to be released from their lease.

A press conference was scheduled for 5 p.m., though neither Seattle paper nor ESPN has an update.

If true, then the NBA.

[Pedro Cerrano]

So Oklahoma City will have an NBA team but cities like Seattle, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Kansas City, St. Louis, etc etc will not.

Riiiiiiiight........

[Pedro Cerrano]

How about this idea?

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division
Boston
New York
New Jersey
Philadelphia

Southeast Division
Miami
Orlando
Charlotte
Atlanta

Central Division
Milwaukee
Indiana
Chicago
Detroit

Yet-to-be-named Division
Washington
Baltimore
Cleveland
Toronto

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Mid-West Division
New Orleans
Memphis
Oklahoma City
Utah

Northwest Division
Seattle
Portland
Denver
Minnesota

Southwest Division
Houston
Dallas
San Antonio
Phoenix

Pacific Division
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Golden State
Sacramento

Each division winner makes playoffs seeded 1-4 and the next four best teams record-wise are in...

Am I crazy?

[BaltimoreTerp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3471503

Basically what I posted earlier. The...um...Oklahoma City Professional Basketball Club will pay Seattle $45 million now, and if the state of Washington gives $75 million to renovate the arena and Seattle does NOT get a team by 2013, they will pay $30 million more.

Also, the name and colors will stay in Seattle. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.

Also doesn't address the Howard Schultz lawsuit to reclaim the franchise, which would make for a hell of an interesting twist in the near future if successful.

[BaltimoreTerp]

How about this idea?

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division
Boston
New York
New Jersey
Philadelphia

Southeast Division
Miami
Orlando
Charlotte
Atlanta

Central Division
Milwaukee
Indiana
Chicago
Detroit

Yet-to-be-named Division
Washington
Baltimore
Cleveland
Toronto

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Mid-West Division
New Orleans
Memphis
Oklahoma City
Utah

Northwest Division
Seattle
Portland
Denver
Minnesota

Southwest Division
Houston
Dallas
San Antonio
Phoenix

Pacific Division
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Golden State
Sacramento

Each division winner makes playoffs seeded 1-4 and the next four best teams record-wise are in...

Am I crazy?

The funny thing about the NBA is that the financial model is so different from the other leagues that teams can survive in places like Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Memphis, Salt Lake City, and Orlando.

I like your set-up. We'd probably see Baltimore and Washington in a division with Philadelphia and Cleveland, with "New Jersey" (Brooklyn), New York, Boston and Toronto in the other.

But it is all imaginary, so it doesn't matter much either way

[PrivateO]

Also, the name and colors will stay in Seattle. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.

Any ideas on what the new Oklahoma City team name will be?