I am going to start this off by admitting that I was wrong about Las Vegas. I had bought into "whomever has the shiniest, newest arena would be the first one to get a team." That had been the narrative up to this point, right?
Turns out that I was completely wrong.
The NBA doesn't want anything to do with Las Vegas and that stems back from the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. There were numerous things that the NBA kept out of the public eye and with Twitter, Vine, Instagram and other instant media functions being so prevalent now the NBA would prefer to not deal with those potential issues 41+ times a year.
With Vegas off the list for a potential relocation destination and expansion possibility, what's left? What cities are on the list?
According to reports, the list is actually quite short- just one name is on the list.
Seattle.
That's it. That is your list.
As of right now there is zero competition out there for Seattle to get a team. Not in the United States and not in Europe. Seattle is the start and the end of your list.
With Milwaukee on a firm deadline of 18 months to break ground on a new arena they could potentially be a new team here. None of us should openly pull for Milwaukee to fail. They have a championship just like us, 46 years of history (more than we did) and jerseys that hang in the rafters. In fact, do not expect to see the name Milwaukee Bucks appear in an article on this site again that doesn't have to deal with the draft.
If Milwaukee does get everything together, after the television deal is completed, do not be shocked to see one or more other franchises come up for sale. Hansen did mention that it's possible that "something else will come our way." If all else fails, Hansen seems to think there is a good chance at expansion in the very near future or he would have never mentioned it in his interview with Percy Allen.
The league wants to make Seattle whole; they just can't come right out and say so.
Comments
Great article!
Nice to hear some positive news / rumors! Thanks Kevin!!!
By SonicsUberAlles on 04.04.14 2:04pm
So Vegas (or the threat of it) is going to be leverage to get more coin out of Seattle?
By Tommy_G on 04.04.14 2:05pm
Doesn't appear to be legit leverage.
No ownership group the NBA wants. Potential problems the NBA doesn’t want.
By MrCLM on 04.04.14 2:06pm
No leverage at all
By Kevin Nesgoda on 04.04.14 2:08pm
I nearly brought that up last night (thought the NBA said 'never again' with Vegas after that AS game) on the other thread
But you were pretty convincing so I let you pop my balloon. Glad for some better news and context today.
By smb282 on 04.04.14 9:07pm
The NBA would LOVE IT if Milwaukee fell through
From a business standpoint, it’s just not a great market. It’s saturated with the Brewers, Packers, and Bucks, and the Bucks are a clear No. 3.
Furthermore, their political situation is just as, if not more, toxic than Seattle when the Sonics left there.
I said when it looked like Sacto was happening that Milwaukee was the market the NBA really wanted out of.
By David Piper on 04.04.14 2:06pm
Very different politics
but similar from a problematic standpoint to building a new arena.
By MrCLM on 04.04.14 2:07pm
yep
it a tea party wave in Wisconsin right now.
But building Miller Park was an unpopular decision there. They’ll fight an arena tootha and nail.
By David Piper on 04.04.14 2:09pm
toothy
By Speedcat on 04.04.14 5:49pm
Makes sense.
Again, the Seattle market+Hansen ownership group, acknowledging an inevitable new arena, beats what Vegas can put on the table, even if their arena is ready.
By The Andy on 04.04.14 2:07pm
Interesting
Especially as it would seem the NHL is actually interested in Vegas.
By Matt Tucker on 04.04.14 2:08pm
NHL is interested in Seattle, Portland, and Quebec City
I think two of those will get expansion, and the third will see a franchise relocated there.
By David Piper on 04.04.14 2:09pm
Have a feeling
We’ll see expansion to Seattle, and relocations to both Portland and QC.
By Matt Tucker on 04.04.14 2:11pm
For the NHL
and have it be 31 teams? I don’t see it making sense.
By gstommylee on 04.04.14 2:12pm
I didn't say that.
I was just speaking to the three cities listed there.
By Matt Tucker on 04.04.14 2:12pm
Ah okay
thanks for clearing it up.
By gstommylee on 04.04.14 2:14pm
Could you see the Maloofs owning a team in Sin city
That would be a dangerous mix
By Jeff - j1012 on 04.04.14 2:15pm
Ha!
I, honestly, could not see the Maloofs owning another team in any sport. At least, not at the major league level. They have a public resume.
It’s the Bruckheimer/MGM/AEG group that’s intriguing.
By Matt Tucker on 04.04.14 2:16pm
Maloofs could never afford it again
They were incapable of maintaining that kind of wealth profile, they’ve proven that now. They’ll never get back in with the big boys, not with any significant controlling share, anyway.
By smb282 on 04.04.14 9:09pm
Rooting for Milwaukee to get this done.
By Paul Rogers on 04.04.14 2:11pm
With all due respect
how do we know this is actually true, and not just the NBA blowing smoke up our collective ass?
Sorry, but my Seattle Skepticism was bound to kick in sooner or later.
By JetCityWoman2 on 04.04.14 2:12pm
In this respect
we don’t have absolute knowledge. But are getting good feedback from sources outside our own pool.
By MrCLM on 04.04.14 2:17pm
I'll take it.
Hahaha
By hughc5 on 04.04.14 2:19pm
Me too!
I’ll take it! And be cautiously optimistic, they could be blowing smoke up our you know what’s, however it feeds into the narrative that Chris Daniels said a few weeks ago, when he said, “something is going on & read between the lines.” This news is encouraging and is hopefully true.
By WoodLandSonic40316 on 04.06.14 3:54pm
CD5 was talking about the NHL when he said this stuff though.
By Tommy_G on 04.06.14 3:57pm