expansion team (i.e. we want durant)

[slick_watts]

although it's probably 99% certain that the board of governors will approve the re-location, i have a feeling that with all the pending suits and bad publicity there will be discussions of possible settlements amongst the owners.

mayor nickels has been steadfast about not accepting a lease buy-out, so the next logical step (other than increasing the buy-out offer) is the dreaded "cleveland browns deal". i don't think the nba should be expanding right now as the talent level is only just now starting to even out in my opinion thanks mostly to the influx of international players, but the nba/owners may have no choice but to extend this offer or face bad publicity, and in bennett's case, a huge lawyer bill.

i know most people oppose this idea. it's interesting to me, though, that the reason everyone opposes it so strongly is probably kevin durant and the fear of watching durant average 30/5/5 in oklahoma city.

if durant wasn't in the picture, suppose the sonics got pick 5 last year and drafted yi or green, it's my theory that an expansion team would be accepted by the majority here.. am i wrong?

[LarBrd33]

The thing is... unless he is horribly injured or becomes addicted to smack, I think it's a lock that Durant turns into that superstar player. He'll be making multiple All-NBA teams when all is said and done. He shot a higher percentage than Bron or Melo at the same age. The guy is going to be a basketball god.

And if they land Rose in the draft... it's a travesty for Seattle.

I'd be like losing a franchise that had Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul. Seriously.... I'm not even exaggerating. This Sonics team was built to suck this year, but if you give Durant a year to bulk up, put some capable players around him and play him at his natural position... the team will be solid and he'll be one of the NBA's elite. Only a few players in the history of the game have been this good at 19. And as I said in another thread... if some miracle happens and Seattle keeps Durant... at his peak his popularity will be equal to Ichiro, Griffey and Kemp combined. Freakin shame if he doesn't stay here.

[LyfeStiles]

Even if say we had Yi instead of Durant I think for the most part people would feel the same. We have a bright future with decent assets with our current players and six 1st rounders in 3yrs. Hard to get that back with an expansion team.

[pr0wler]

Screw an expansion team. Just ask Charlotte fans - Bobcats have been and will be stinking it up for a while now.

[DoItALL9]

Screw an expansion team. Just ask Charlotte fans - Bobcats have been and will be stinking it up for a while now.

Man, you weren't wrong on this Charlotte take

[ecuhus1981]

Shouting into the void, my message in a bottle.

Let's say Boston sells for $6.3bil in January 2025. Board of Governors decide to expand by 2 teams, and Seattle wins one of the bids for a team starting in the 2026-27 season.

Would Seattle make a "homecoming" free agent bid for a 39yo Kevin Durant? I think it'd be a cool story, although I don't know if PHX would attempt to extend him before then, or what his contract demands would be. Likely, SEA would need to offer something like 2yrs, $100mil (which by then would only be like 30% of the salary cap).

Worth it for a storybook ending? Ticket and jersey sales alone would make it profitable, and even a severely diminished KD should be a quality mentor for a young core.

[Det the Threat]

As far as i know, the NBA is looking for those expansion teams to start playing in 2027 given that the expansion process has been set back thanks to the league battles about the tv deal.
But even if it was in 2026(which would be great), I doubt Durant is signed during his final years in the league.

I think Durant is a guy that ends up signing a 1 day contract to "finish his career" where it started.
That could potentially set him up to work in the front office for the Sonics, something he's expressed interest in before.

[Clav]

As far as i know, the NBA is looking for those expansion teams to start playing in 2027 given that the expansion process has been set back thanks to the league battles about the tv deal.
But even if it was in 2026(which would be great), I doubt Durant is signed during his final years in the league.

I think Durant is a guy that ends up signing a 1 day contract to "finish his career" where it started.
That could potentially set him up to work in the front office for the Sonics, something he's expressed interest in before.

I just had this chat with my brother earlier. I think it would be a really cool gesture to sign with Seattle again. it's not out of possibility that Durant can have a multi year contract either, 1+1 ?? time will tell but I'd love to see it

[kanyon]

It'd be a great story, and since expansion teams are usually pretty bad--it'd give them a player attraction along with the hopefuls.

[DoItALL9]

How much concern should there be that expansion will dilute the league?

Checkout the articles from Zach Kram & Howard Beck on on The Ringer. It's their expansion week.

[Dick Tate]

Whether one has concern or not, Silver has used that disclaimer from the git go.

Jody Allen is waiting this whole sitch out, imo

[DoItALL9]

Howard Beck's article doesn't seem to be very encouraging for expansion.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/02/18/nba/nba-expansion-teams-las-vegas-seattle-adam-silver-future


The heavy interest in Europe by the in NBA isn't promising either.

[One_and_Done]

Howard Beck's article doesn't seem to be very encouraging for expansion.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/02/18/nba/nba-expansion-teams-las-vegas-seattle-adam-silver-future


The heavy interest in Europe by the in NBA isn't promising either.

The talk about expansion is always there, but ultimately it doesn't make much sense for the 30 existing owners unless the new teams bring in a huge amount of new revenue, to compensate losing 2/32's of the yearly revenue pie. That's something that I'm not sure any domestic team can do tbh, which is why all the talk never seems to go anywhere.

I'd like some new teams, but at this point relocation seems more likely. Until I see it announced, I'll be sceptical. 2027 seems way too soon at any rate.

[Cactus Jack]

Man, you weren't wrong on this Charlotte take

Let's try to avoid bumping old threads.