On April 13, 2008 the Seattle Supersonics beat the Dallas Mavericks at the Key Arena 99-95. It was widely suspected at the time but nobody knew for certain then that they had just witnessed the last NBA game in Seattle as owner Clay Bennett with the blessing of then Commissioner David Stern ripped the Sonics away from Seattle to begin the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although there have been rumblings since and Sonics memorabilia is still popular among NBA fans there has never been an official confirmation that the league would be back in the Emerald City (but a few close misses most notably in 2013 when investor Chris Hansen had a deal to bring the Sacramento Kings to Seattle but the NBA Board of Governors voted it down) today Stern’s successor Adam Silver said something guaranteed to begin hopeful chatter. In an interview Mr. Silver stated that “Seattle will no doubt be on a short list of cities we’ll look at.” concerning future league expansion which for Seattle fans may be preferable seeing as they have felt the scorn of relocation.
The Sonics return to the Association is not official and nor will it be in the immediate future however as with the Super Team Virus in full effect Silver noted that fans have become concerned about the dilution of talent in the NBA which expanding to include one or two more teams would make worse as more fringe players would take up roster spots and the league free agent pool of low end talent would be thinned. However to couple reality with dreams Silver also has noted that the league will add more teams into its current 30 team fold eventually, never dismissing the idea of expansion itself only the timing. Until things do become official fans pining for the Sonics to once again take the ball up past half court will have to content themselves watching old highlights of Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and saying “maybe one day”.
