NBA in Seattle: Sonics Out, Grizzlies In?

The Playoffs are in full swing and yet, something bugs me. Last week, the NBA Board of Governors approved the Sonics move to Oklahoma City. Only Portland and Dallas voted against it.

So it seems like the move is imminent. This also raises two questions: When will they move and what happens to Seattle?

To answer the first question, it seems like it will depend on the court's decision to force the team to honor its lease until 2010. There is also the issue of a lawsuit filed by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz hoping to rescind the sale of the team.

Schultz claims that Clay Bennett promised to keep the team in Seattle. Emails revealed that Bennett had no such thought. Because of this, Schultz hopes that the judge will give him back the Sonics.

It is very unlikely that the court will side with Schultz. So the lawsuit is just a small obstacle for the Sonics' move. Unfortunately, Schultz actions can be put under the too little, too late category.

We must keep in mind that he is as much to blame as Bennett. What did he think was going to happen after he sold the team to an Oklahoma City ownership group? Especially since OKC temporarily had the Hornets and now wanted a new team.

Regardless of Schultz, the ultimate date of departure will be determined by the courts' decision regarding the lease. At this point, it might be better for the Sonics to leave now. Like a bad relationship, it is better to end it now then wait until the future when it hurts even more. It's a shame that the city of Seattle will have its team yanked away and moved to a smaller city.

As J.A. Adande said recently, the league is building up too much bad karma with its handling of the Sonics' move. Something is just not right about moving a team from a larger city to a smaller one.

Isn't the ultimate point of the teams to make money? Cities like San Diego, San Jose, Jacksonville, Columbus, and Louisville all have a larger population than Oklahoma City and don't have a basketball team. Of course, things like these happen all the time. For example, Buffalo having a football team when Los Angeles doesn't. But I digress.

So what happens in Seattle when the Sonics leave? The big issue was the arena. KeyArena was an inferior venue compared to newer arenas like the Ford Center. Clay Bennett said that it was impossible for him to make a profit in that building. If the city wants a new team, they will have to build a new arena.

Unfortunately, after building a new baseball and football stadium, the city is hesitant to shell out money for a new arena. Especially with an unhealthy economy. If a new arena is built, it wil have to be privately funded.

So who would be willing to move to Washington? No team is currently looking to relocate but one is looking to sell.  The Memphis Grizzlies caused quite a splash when they traded Pau Gasol for large expiring contracts. Insiders have speculated that this was done with the purpose of selling the team.

The trade of Gasol was the equivalent of a clearance sale. The merchandise had to go to bring the price of the team down. Now many Seattle businessmen came forward offering to buy the team back from Bennett. What they should do now is offer to buy the Grizzlies. If they are serious about having a team in Seattle, this is their best chance.

An expansion team seems very unlikely with the league organization being in perfect equilibrium right now. 15 teams per conference. Five teams per division. If a new team is created in Seattle, another one will have to be created in the East. Then go back to having four divisions with eight teams in each one. Either way, it seems like the Sonics' move will have bigger repercussions down the road for the league?

So what's going to happen? Will Kevin Durant play in Oklahoma City? Will Rudy Gay play in the land of Microsoft and Tall Lattes? Only time will tell...