Supersonicsoul - The Sonics Blog!

Hypocrisis

2008-07-03T16:20:00.000-07:00

Part and parcel with yesterday’s settlement is an assumption that no expansion teams are in the NBA’s foreseeable future.

Meaning, of course, any team bearing a Seattle Sonics’ jersey in the future will be doing so because another city’s NBA dreams have gone up in flames.

Leading yours truly to wonder: Is it worth it? After spending the past few days (well, months, really) bemoaning our fate and dispensing venom in every direction at the evil which is relocation, are we ready to be the league leaders in hypocrisy?

Color it however you like, but taking a team from another city makes us no better than the good people of Oklahoma City, and makes Steve Ballmer no better than Clay Bennett.

(Well, actually, Ballmer has yet to buy a team in another city, start the relocation process before the ink had dried on the contract, call himself a man possessed to not relocate, and then indulge in lascivious emails with the league commissioner. Perhaps he wouldn’t be as low as Bennett.).

As I was saying, do we want to prey upon the bones of another city’s misfortune? Personally, I’m leaning to the “No” side of that question, and it’s not that difficult to see why.

I’ve utilized the divorce analogy before for this situation; with Seattle as the mother, PBC as the father, and Sonic fans as the child. Well, to carry that metaphor to its logical conclusion, luring a team here from another city is the equivalent of your recently divorced mom wearing a halter top to your t-ball game, hoping her cleavage is enough to convince your friend’s dad to abandon his wife.

It’s all well and good for you to have a new dad, but what about your friend, who now has to hope that his mom is as good at flirting as your mom?

Okay, it’s a messy analogy and we’re beginning to paddle into some unseemly, oedipal waters at this point, but I think my point is clear: after enduring the past year and a half of turmoil and heartache, do we really want to be the ones causing that same pain to another group of people?

I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t want to be a party to that. And that is why, to my way of thinking, the only solutions to this whole sorry situation are either a victorious Howard Schultz lawsuit or an expansion team.

Any other answer is just too hypocritical for me to swallow.

Moving Along

2008-07-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

drawin': Raf / writin': Pete

Amount of money spent by Clay Bennett to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City:

City of Seattle, June 2008: $45 million
Additional money, 2013: $30 million
Relocation fee: $30 million
Losses, 2007-08 season (est.): $20 million
Losses, 2006-07 season (est.): $20 million
Moving fees (est.): $15 million
Legal fees (est.): $2 million

Add it all up and you come to a total of $162 million.

Why is this important? Because the cost of renovating KeyArena is now pegged at around $300 million, but, back when the team was sold, Howard Schultz was looking to spend about $225 million to renovate the building. After purchasing the team, Bennett indicated – repeatedly – that he had no interest in contributing any of his own money to the project (which eventually morphed into a completely new arena in Renton, at a price tag of $500 million).

And yet, Bennett has now committed more than half of that total just for relocating his new toy to Oklahoma City. If Bennett had just offered two-thirds of that figure - $100 million – while in Olympia fourteen months ago, yesterday would never have happened, and the state would have easily passed the bill to either build a new facility or renovate KeyArena. Further, by indicating that he was interested in helping the team, the miserable attendance figures of the past two years would have been considerably better.

Instead, Bennett kept his money in his pocket, because all along he had no interest in doing anything to keep this team here and a major interest, obviously, in getting a team for Oklahoma City.

$162 million goes a long, long way in this world. Apparently, though, just not in Seattle.

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Loss of Innocence

2008-07-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

A lot of words and tears will be spilled in the next days and weeks as all of us seek to describe what has happened to the Seattle Supersonics. After 41 years of heartache and happiness, 41 years of Kemp and the Glove and Gus and DJ and all the rest, trying to distill the emotions of what transpired will be difficult, if not impossible. But allow me to offer up a small window into how I'm feeling this afternoon, though.

When I was a boy growing up in Seattle, one of my most prized possessions was a special edition of the Seattle Times from 1979, the year the Sonics won their (can we say only now?) NBA title in Seattle. It was chock full of anecdotes, statistics, game recaps, and other bizarre tidbits of information. In those pre-computer years, it was a delightful mishmash of stories, obviously put together by editors and writers who were just overjoyed to be doing the work.

As the years passed, the newspaper yellowed. I've moved quite a bit since leaving Seattle; first Oregon, then Southern California, now Vancouver. Somehow, that newspaper always managed to tag along with me. Every so often, maybe once or twice a year, I'd open it up and read through the stories again and it never failed to make me smile, to put an extra hop in my step.

Now, though, I don't know if I could bear to read it; that special section became a little less special today. Not because I was convinced the Sonics would never leave, but because a small part of me hoped they wouldn't. That small part of me that scoots to the edge of my seat when the Sonics are involved a close game; that small part that makes me pick up and phone Raf or Paul when the Sonics do something extraordinary; that small part of me that imitates Xavier McDaniel when I'm shooting hoops by myself.

After what happened today, that small part of me isn't doing so well right now.

Team Leaving

2008-07-02T16:20:00.001-07:00

Well, it appears that $75 million is the magic number.

The City of Seattle accepted a cash payout of $75 million from the PBC to allow the Sonics to leave their home of 41 years and move to Oklahoma City. That amount may or may not be repaid by Clay Bennett, et al if the city were to receive another team in the Sonics' stead.

As you would imagine, more to come.

Judge's Statement

2008-07-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here's what Judge Marsha Pechman had to say via statement regarding today's ruling:

The parties have settled the case. Details of the settlement will be released by the parties.

Roughly translated:

Because neither side was capable of coming to an agreement until their game of chicken had both cars teetering on the edge of the cliff, I was forced to preside over this nonsense for a whole week when I could have been watching Judge Judy DVDs instead. Thanks alot.

Settlement in Works?

2008-07-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

I saw this first on the Daily Oklahoman, and my first thought was, "Well, there isn't a grain of salt big enough to take with that sketchy story." A settlement? Sure, it's nice to ponder, but the attribution in that story was rather light.

Now, however, we have some more information. From The Seattle Times:

"It looks like [a settlement], but I'm afraid what little I know is sworn to secrecy until after the mayor's press conference," said [Seattle City Councilmember Jean] Godden.

From the PI:

"A spokesperson for City Attorney Tom Carr said their office was not aware of [the settlement]and was not planning any comment until a scheduled 5 p.m. press conference by Mayor Greg Nickels."

Wait and see.

Dear Marsha

2008-07-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

cartoon: Raf / words: Paul

Dear Marsha,

I know you're probably pretty busy today, with your big Seattle vs. Sonics decision coming up this afternoon, but I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you thanks for all your hard work. Going into it, you probably thought it was going to be an open and shut case. You and me both, sister!

I mean, a lease is a lease, right? This should have been like an uncontested, open-court dunk from the Reign-Man. Instead, the city looked more like a drunken Squatch, fumbling, stumbling and bumbling its way into a humiliating self-check on the rim. "Poisoned well?" Ouch.

But I'm hoping you can see past the feeble attempt by the home team (we Seattle sports fans should be used to that) and see the bigger picture: Clay and his boys entered into a lease they had no intention of honoring. If you decide for Team Bennett, it's basically telling them that if you've got enough money, then the rules don't apply, further emboldening other fat-cat corporate scumbags to do the same thing.

Now, I know I'm a little biased here. I can recite every SuperSonics roster since 1978. I have an Xavier McDaniel action figure. I not only remember Vincent Askew, but I can do an uncanny imitation of his layups. I'm a fanboy's fanboy.

But this decision isn't just for die-hard Sonics fans — it's for every sports fan in the country. If this can happen in Seattle, one of the biggest media markets with some of the most loyal fans in the country, it can happen anywhere. Siding with the Bennett Boys is saying it's OK for David Stern and the NBA to blackmail fans and non-fans alike into paying millions of dollars for needless new arenas. It's telling them it's OK to squeeze out the working class fans to make room for high-priced suites for corporate goons who couldn't care less about basketball. It's telling the fans "You don't matter".

At 4pm today, when you post your decision, you are either going to side with common, hard-working citizens or spineless, corporate pirates. I hope you make the right decision.

Sincerely,

Paul Merrill

p.s. Did I tell you how lovely you look today? Also, your hair smells terrific.
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O Canada

2008-07-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

So I take a four-day vacation from the site to enjoy the wonderfulness of Canada Day, and what do I miss?

- Sonics watch Serge Ibaka walk away to Spain - an event not entirely unexpected.
- Mickael Gelabale and the Sonics severe their ties
- Earl Watson broke his thumb, and will likely be out for up to four months, possibly putting the brakes on the expected Luke Ridnour Sweepstakes, but possibly not
- The Sonics announced their summer league roster

And, finally, today is the big day, court-wise. Judge Pechman will announce her decision at 4 pm via the court's web site, and speculation is running rampant.

Obviously, everyone is an expert in these sorts of things, regardless of their knowledge of the case. Personally, I have no idea whatsoever how she will rule, but that doesn't preclude me from offering a guess. After all, what is a blog for if not for uniformed guesswork?

So, allow me my two cents to say that Pechman will rule for the team, with an outside chance she goes totally off the map and doesn't issue a ruling at all, instead rolling this case up with the Schultz lawsuit. Call it pessimism, call it fatigue, call it what you wish, but while I'm not entirely convinced one way or the other after a week's worth of testimony, I just have a gut instinct that's how it is going to fall.

Feel free to chime in with your expert opinions in the comments section.

And Then There Was 1

2008-06-27T10:32:00.001-07:00

As you might recall, Sam Presti dealt away two second-round picks from last year's draft. Those picks turned out to be Glen Davis and Carl Landry, both strong contributors to their teams.

Yesterday, the Sonics began the day with four (!) picks in the second round of the NBA draft. Of those four picks, the Sonics did the following:

#32 - traded to Detroit for #29 pick
#46 - traded to Detroit for #29 pick
#50 - DeVon Hardin, not traded
#56 - traded to Cleveland for cash

All of which means, in the past two seasons Presti has had six second-round picks available to him, and, of those six, he has traded away five, receiving in exchange a future second-rounder, an end of the first-rounder, cash, and Jeff Green's left arm (an approximation of what the pick's value in the Ray Allen trade).

And so, to close the book on last year's draft-day dealings and put an end to my extended ramblings, the Seattle Sonics essentially traded Carl Landry for half of DJ White. Not exactly a sweet flip.

Hold the Mayo

2008-06-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

Boy, it's too bad the Sonics didn't have something of value to deal to Minnesota, so that they might have walked away from the draft with 3rd-most talented player (OJ Mayo) in exchange for a guy they didn't want (Kevin Love).

You know, maybe a large expiring contract, or perhaps a defensive-minded point guard who can shoot the three.

Yeah, you always hold onto guys like those until a great deal comes along and sweeps you off your feet.

Rounding Out the Draft

2008-06-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

To finish off the night, the Sonics added two more picks in the second round.

#20, Devon Hardin, Cal, Center
#26, Sasha Kaun, Kansas, Center

Please, try to reign in your enthusiasm.

Before I sign off for the night, a few thoughts:

-I can live with the Westbrook pick. He's not going to help the Sonics as a 30-minute-a-night guy immediately and he's not a true point guard in the sense of Paul or Williams or Kidd, but he has loads of talent, great speed, and, worst case, he's a top guy off the bench.

-The Ibaka pick mystifies me. My only hope is that Presti worked out a deal with the guy ahead of time, and the whole "don't pick me" routine was an act to scare other teams away. Honestly, I don't buy that as the truth, but it's the only thing keeping me from thinking this was a total farce.

-DJ White isn't a star by a long shot, but he has some low-post ability, works hard, and is still better than almost anyone else on the roster down low.

-The 2nd rounders? No clue.

-On the whole, I give the draft a very early grade of a B-. Normally, in school, a B- is okay, especially in a class where the notes and homework are killing you. But this is a B- in a class like PE; there's no way with 6 picks the Sonics should be coming out of here with such a craptacular haul. Seriously, are you more or less excited about the Sonics' future after today? At what point do we start thinking, "Hey, is Sam Presti ever going to deliver on his genius label? How much of a line of credit do we extend to this guy?"

Sonics Add DJ White

2008-06-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

Climb back down off the ledge, and add "Genius" to the "Boy Genius" label for Sam Presti again (for awhile there, I was beginning to think he was more of the former and less of the latter). The Sonics have selected DJ White from Indiana with the 29th pick of the first round.

Seattle dealt their #32 and #46 picks in the second round of this year's draft in order to pick up White with Detroit's first round pick (got that?). White is a good back to the basket player, he's a senior, and he instantly becomes one of the two or three best post players on offense on the entire team (yeah, we're that bad, folks). Seattle still has two remaining second-rounders available.

With the #24 pick

2008-06-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

The Sonics confound me. Serge Ibaka? Wait a minute - didn't he tell every NBA team that he didn't want to be drafted in the first round? Isn't this a complete and utter waste of a pick?

More to come, but I'm utterly confused by this pick. It's not that Ibaka is untalented or unworthy of being selected this high, it's that he specifically told teams to not take him until the 2nd round. Either Sam Presti is a genius that knows of a way to pry Ibaka from Europe, or the Sonics just threw away the #24 pick in the draft.

Still Pickin'?

2008-06-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

No Sonic trades to report as of yet, and with the #24 pick looming, will the Sonics go for foreign-born talent here, just to help Clay Bennett avoid spending more than $0.01 more than he has to while he's in Seattle?

DeAndre Jordan is still hanging around (please no, please, please, please), as is Kosta Koufos.

Three names stand out for me: CDR, Courtney Lee, and Nicolas Batum. I know Batum's a SF and Seattle needs a SF like they need Clay Bennett, but the guy has massive potential.

Russell Westbrook at #4

2008-06-26T16:57:00.000-07:00

That's the pick. Here's the bio from nbadraft.net.

He's a big-time transition player, and now he's a Sonic.

Reasons to be excited:
- Westbrook is tenacious, fast, and a good defender. He can guard any PG, and most SGs. He can get in the lane and score and can run the offense relatively well.

Reasons not to be excited:
- He shot 17 of 31 at the line this year. He made 31 3's in his NCAA career, or as many as some guys make in a couple of weeks. He doesn't have a good outside shot.

Hey, wait, don't the Sonics already have a UCLA point guard who can't shoot?

Start Your Guesswork

2008-06-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

So, who are the Sonics going to take? We're 15 minutes from the Bulls making their choice, so that means about 30-40 minutes till the Sonics make their selection.

Or are we? Maybe we'll have to wait about 1 hour until the Clippers/Sonics pick at #7.

I'm guessing the Sonics move down, pick Brook Lopez, and all of us start throwing things at our tv screens.

Arguments Are Over

2008-06-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

Judge Marsha Pechman has heard her last arguments from the City and the PBC, and now two cities — Oklahoma City and Seattle — wait until next Wednesday, July 2 at 4 pm, when the Judge issues her verdict.

There will be plenty of fireworks around the country on July 4th, but expect some other explosions on the 2nd as well.

Assume

2008-06-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Let's assume that draftexpress.com and all the other prediction sites out there were right for the past three weeks, and that the Sonics were interested in taking Jerryd Bayless with the #4 pick.

Well, have you seen the DraftExpress board today? Take a guess at where they have Bayless going.

4th? Nope.

6th? Nope.

8th? 9th? 10th? Nope, nope, nope.

11th.

Yes, that's right, 11th. Which means, that if the Sonics are truly interested in Bayless, then they'd be pretty dumb to pick him at the #4 spot, considering that none of the next six teams wants him.

Which means, of course, that the smoke emanating from the Great Draft Day Rumor Mill may be caused by just a little bit of fire, and that the Sonics are, indeed, interested in trading down.

Deal Confirmed?

2008-06-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Chad Ford is reporting that a deal is in place between ... well, I'll just quote him:

The Clippers and Sonics have agreed to swap picks as long as the Wolves take O.J. Mayo at No. 3. If Mayo isn't drafted at 3, the deal is off according to two sources close to the information.

According to Ric Bucher (also of ESPN), the pick will be in 2009. and will be subject to restrictions.

UPDATE: Percy Allen at the Times quotes sources at the Sonics saying this deal is, in fact, a fabrication. So, in the words of Gilda Radner, "Never mind."

Stern Will Say Seattle

2008-06-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

According to the Daily Oklahoman, David Stern will announce the Sonics' pick(s) today with the words "Seattle Supersonics," and not omit the city's name. An NBA official confirmed this to the Oklahoman.

I'd been wondering about this the past few days, but I'm glad it is so. Doesn't mean alot, but it means something to people here.

Ceis Not Testifying

2008-06-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

Judge Pechman has ruled that Deputy Seattle Mayor Tim Ceis will not be allowed to be called as a rebuttal witness for the city.

Pechman decided Ceis, who ostensibly would rebut the argument that the city was involved in a "hand-in-glove" relationship with the efforts to force the PBC to sell the team, does not need to testify as he has already been deposed, and in that deposition he affirmed that he had not seen the "Poisoned Well" PowerPoint presentation.

In earlier testimony, the PBC called Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata, introduced two pieces of evidence, and, finally, rested their case. The city will wrap up its case today and then closing arguments will take place this afternoon.

While many will point to Pechman's denial of Ceis' testimony as a big loss for the city, I would argue that, as Pechman pointed out, Ceis already was deposed and spoke on this subject. While it would have been nice for Ceis to further illustrate this point, remember, this is not a jury trial. So long as the judge is aware of the situation, it is unnecessary for the city to go through histrionics to prove its point.

It's not a win for the city, true, but not a huge loss, either.

Trade Offer

2008-06-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

According to Chad Ford at ESPN, the Clippers have offered their #7 pick and the rights to their pick next season for the Sonics' pick at #4.

Normally, I'd hesitate to trade down — the statistics bear out that once you get beyond the first five or so players, you're playing Russian Roulette — but since Sam Presti seems less than thrilled with his options at #4, it makes sense to make this move. The Sonics will walk away with someone they'll be happy with at #7, plus they'll get another lottery pick next year when the Clippers fall to 20-62 after Elton Brand breaks his back while attempting to carry [Insert Random Injured Clipper Here] back to the bench.

Random Draft Day Thoughts, Part I

2008-06-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

If Minnesota passes on OJ Mayo at #3 it will be a huge boon to the Sonics. After Rose and Beasley, Mayo has the most cache of anyone in the draft. Even if Presti wants no part of the SC guard, he’s the most tradeable commodity. The Sonics would easily be able to get a lottery pick in this year’s draft plus one in next year’s by dealing away Mayo. The upside is they’d still be able to get Lopez, Bayless, Westbrook, or whomever in the bargain ....
My dream pick for the Sonics with their second pick of the first round would be Florida’s Marreese Speights, a 6’10” power forward who is plenty talented, but also plenty raw. A few weeks ago, Speights would have likely slipped to #24, but now it appears he’ll be selected long before the Sonics pick at #24. Assuming, of course, that Presti doesn’t deal away his #24 pick plus a second-rounder (or two) to move up in the draft.
It’s early, but I’m guessing the Sonics walk away with no more than three actual warm bodies this year via the draft. Either that, or whatever number greater than three they draft, the overage will all be Euros/non-Americans who will not set foot in North America for the foreseeable future.
Brian Robinson at sonicscentral.com can see Luke Ridnour being dealt today; I'd add Chris Wilcox to that mix, although I think Weezy's trade value will be higher next February.

Seattle Beats NBA in Court

2008-06-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Actually, it was between Seattle-area rapper Lil Kriz and the NBA. And the case — involving the NBA's use of Lil Kriz' single "Vegas" in a promotional spot without his knowledge or permission — was settled out of court.

But, can't we still take that as an omen?

Draft Day

2008-06-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Today's a big day for the Sonics — a total of six different players could be holding up Seattle (yeah, Seattle) jerseys for photographers during the afternoon and evening hours, and that's not counting the trade possibilities available.

We'll get to the rumors and suppositions as the day progresses, but, for now, here's my favorite column in the 3-odd years writing about the Sonics:

NFL vs NBA Draft .