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No NBA Guarantee, No Expansion Plans: Seattle Sonics Fans Got Screwed - NBA FanHouse

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No NBA Guarantee, No Expansion Plans: Seattle Sonics Fans Got Screwed



So the Sonics will play home games in Oklahoma City next year. Actually, this collection of players employed by the Sonics will be playing home games in Oklahoma City next year, but with a different mascot and a different moniker. The 'Sonics' brand is the only thing staying in Seattle, besides $45 million of Clay Bennett's money. (The other $30 million will only pay out if the city has no NBA team by 2013.)

In his press conference (webcast by KING5.com), Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels confirmed the worst fears of fans: the city caved at the last minute. There is no guarantee of a replacement team in Seattle. There are no plans for NBA expansion on the table, nor any assurance from the league that Seattle will take priority should expansion be considered.

In fact, there are no freaking new plans! Nickels said the city would go back to the Legislature to ask for permission to collect taxes for a KeyArena renovation. This would be the same Legislature that has told everyone involved -- Bennett, David Stern, previous owner and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, prospective owner and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Nickels himself -- the Legislature has told all of them "no no no." The plan, as Nickels communicated it tonight, is to do the same, toothless maneuvering that has already failed repeatedly.

Even if that works -- there's no guarantee from the NBA they'll give Seattle a team! Stern released a statement, telling Seattle it needs to secure its funding plan for a $300 million renovation by the end of 2009 in order to have a shot at a potential, hypothetical team before 2013. His statement is replete with 'ifs.'

What exactly did the city get from this settlement? To me, it looks like a whole lot of nothing.

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