NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run

[Xevious]

It's an interesting situation (that has already been discussed on ESPN). Since Seattle is keeping the colors and team name just in case the NBA comes back to town, who gets the Sonics' retired jerseys and titles? And if they stay in Seattle, what happens if a team relocates there in the future?

Relocating a team is one thing, but to me it looks like they flushed the team's history down the toilet. I'm not sure why the colors and name were that important. If a team moves there in the future, it should be regarded as a completely different team with a completely different history. Just my opinion.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Big news, it looks like the Sixers have signed Elton Brand. With a strong big man, I think the team has improved dramatically for next year

 

[gblews]

Big news, it looks like the Sixers have signed Elton Brand. With a strong big man, I think the team has improved dramatically for next year

I agree. They are about to sign a future Hall of Famer and a great addition the organization.

As for the Clips, Donald Sterling is getting exctly what he deserves. Elton was a loyal soldier on that dog-ass team and after he gets hurt last year (while working out, no less) the Clippers accuse him of steroid abuse. Such class.

Can't wait to hear what one of the local sports talk guys, who is a Clipper lover and Lakers hater, has to say tomorrow.

 

[gblews]

The NBA is coming to Oklahoma! I have already placed my name on the "season ticket holder waiting list"

I would love to buy some cheap lower level seats to see the NBA in OKC!

Too bad it cost a dedicated fanbase with a rich history their team.

Agree. I feel bad for the Sonics loyal fans. But who knows, maybe the Sonics, like the Raiders, will one day return. I don't think Oklahoma has ever had any pro sports teams, so who knows how long the enthusiasm will last.

 

[tomalak301]

I love days when Free Agency starts in various sports. Last week was the NHL, and this week is the NBA and Corey Maggetti is a Warrior. Not sure if I like the move but I don't dislike it. I'm still shocked at Baron's bombshell and little lie. Oh well, that's the way Free agency works in the NBA I guess.

 

[DanCPA]

It's an interesting situation (that has already been discussed on ESPN). Since Seattle is keeping the colors and team name just in case the NBA comes back to town, who gets the Sonics' retired jerseys and titles? And if they stay in Seattle, what happens if a team relocates there in the future?

Relocating a team is one thing, but to me it looks like they flushed the team's history down the toilet. I'm not sure why the colors and name were that important. If a team moves there in the future, it should be regarded as a completely different team with a completely different history. Just my opinion.

I believe that Bennett owns the legacy of the Sonics and will make new championship banners in OKC.
Also, if a new team goes to Seattle, they have the right to take up the legacy of the Sonics, so in essence, you can have two franchises with the same history. The only reason I don't see this as a major problem is that I doubt the NBA will expand, so the next Seattle team will likely have it's own history (Memphis or the Clips likely)

As for free agency, the Clips loss of Brand effectively ended their season before it started. Hopefully they can go get another quality player to try to plug that hole, but I doubt they can find anyone worth it and willing to come play second fiddle to Kobe in LA

As for the 6ers, I now see them as the 2nd best team in the East. They had a strong team in the second half of last year, and adding Brand will surely help them!

 

[erastus25]

It's an interesting situation (that has already been discussed on ESPN). Since Seattle is keeping the colors and team name just in case the NBA comes back to town, who gets the Sonics' retired jerseys and titles? And if they stay in Seattle, what happens if a team relocates there in the future?

Relocating a team is one thing, but to me it looks like they flushed the team's history down the toilet. I'm not sure why the colors and name were that important. If a team moves there in the future, it should be regarded as a completely different team with a completely different history. Just my opinion.

I believe that Bennett owns the legacy of the Sonics and will make new championship banners in OKC.
Also, if a new team goes to Seattle, they have the right to take up the legacy of the Sonics, so in essence, you can have two franchises with the same history. The only reason I don't see this as a major problem is that I doubt the NBA will expand, so the next Seattle team will likely have it's own history (Memphis or the Clips likely)

As for free agency, the Clips loss of Brand effectively ended their season before it started. Hopefully they can go get another quality player to try to plug that hole, but I doubt they can find anyone worth it and willing to come play second fiddle to Kobe in LA

As for the 6ers, I now see them as the 2nd best team in the East. They had a strong team in the second half of last year, and adding Brand will surely help them!

Here are the exact details of the legacy of the team after the move to OKC:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop...Didn-t-Exactly-Give-Up-that-Sonic-Legacy.html

And did I really see a post that called Elton Brand a futer HoFer?

 

[DanCPA]

And did I really see a post that called Elton Brand a futer HoFer?

Somebody was drinking the Kool-Aid

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

Big news, it looks like the Sixers have signed Elton Brand. With a strong big man, I think the team has improved dramatically for next year

I agree. They are about to sign a future Hall of Famer and a great addition the organization.

As for the Clips, Donald Sterling is getting exctly what he deserves. Elton was a loyal soldier on that dog-ass team and after he gets hurt last year (while working out, no less) the Clippers accuse him of steroid abuse. Such class.

Can't wait to hear what one of the local sports talk guys, who is a Clipper lover and Lakers hater, has to say tomorrow.

Dunleavy was on the radio yesterday and told his side of things. (He's the coach and the GM since Eligin Baylor basically is a figurehead that scouts and gives assessment on players.) According to him Brand really screwed the team over on this one. Brand made a verbal agreement with the team and the team did everything he wanted, including signing Baron Davis. Everything seemed fine and he was texting his teammates about how excited he was. He even texted Dunleavy to change the wording on his contract, and Dunleavy got it done over night. Then he stops returning calls.

Now he's blaming the team for his leaving when really it's all about his agent getting slighted by the fact that Brand and Dunleavy talked directly and agreed to the 75mil figure. The whole story about being slighted by the team would have happened before the Davis signing. Before he opted out they wanted 120 mil for the new contract and the team said they'd only do it if he played healthy this year and proved he was worth it. If he was really slighted why was he excitedly texting his teammates and taking photo ops with Baron Davis after this horrible dis? Why was he texting Dunleavy asking for a 75 mil contract and Baron Davis?

Dunleavy says he still has all the texts on his phone, and he's at a loss for words why Brand wouldn't just say he changed his mind. Verbal contracts aren't binding so there's no need for the lies. If he wanted to leave, he could have just left. Instead he asked for a very high cost addition and left the team without the ability to get anything in return for him even after they give him everything he asked for. Then he turns around and blaims everything on the team.

This comes down to the agent's ego, and the agent wanting to get retribution because Brand talked to Dunleavy without talking to the agent first.

 

[DanCPA]

This comes down to the agent's ego, and the agent wanting to get retribution because Brand talked to Dunleavy without talking to the agent first.

I haven't heard Dunleavy's side of the story, but I tend to believe him. Brand was on PTI yesterday and gave his side of the story...

The Clips got fucked by Brand...

 

[John Picard]

The NBA is coming to Oklahoma! I have already placed my name on the "season ticket holder waiting list"

I would love to buy some cheap lower level seats to see the NBA in OKC!

Too bad it cost a dedicated fanbase with a rich history their team.

No ill will intended for the OKC fans, I'm sure you guys will do a great job suppporting the team, but it's still a crappy situation.

Dedicated fan base? I don't care for sports (much less basketball) and from what I've read in both the Seattle and Oklahoma City news, attendance for the Sonics has been pitiful the last 10 years. OKC had to add another phone line for people ordering tickets because demand has been huge here. No one thought OKC would be able to support the Hornets, and the turnout was awesome for every game. The Hornets were so impressed that many of them did not want to return to New Orleans.

 

[DanCPA]

The Hornets were so impressed that many of them did not want to return to New Orleans.

And given the current and predicted future problems of maintaining a NBA team in the big easy, there were talks about moving the team back to OKC in a few years.

 

[John Picard]

The Hornets were so impressed that many of them did not want to return to New Orleans.

And given the current and predicted future problems of maintaining a NBA team in the big easy, there were talks about moving the team back to OKC in a few years.

As much as people across the country have been bashing Oklahoma City, I think the next couple of years will be very interesting and educational. This city has come a long way since I moved here 15 years ago. Hell, when the minor league ballpark opened about 7 years ago there were sports reporters from across the nation reporting on opening day. Many were jealous and commented that it rivaled most major league stadiums.

 

[DanCPA]

As much as people across the country have been bashing Oklahoma City, I think the next couple of years will be very interesting and educational.

We have seen many teams prosper in smaller markets. If anything, I think that if the Sonics prosper here, Oklahoma (likely OKC, but maybe Tulsa) will eventually get a NHL team as well.

This city has come a long way since I moved here 15 years ago. Hell, when the minor league ballpark opened about 7 years ago there were sports reporters from across the nation reporting on opening day. Many were jealous and commented that it rivaled most major league stadiums.

I think comparing ATT Field (or whatever it's called) to a MLB ball park is a HUGE stretch, but it is beautiful and in a great designed area. The bricktown experience is better than some ball parks in my opinion, but it's unfair to compare them.

 

[John Picard]

As much as people across the country have been bashing Oklahoma City, I think the next couple of years will be very interesting and educational.

We have seen many teams prosper in smaller markets. If anything, I think that if the Sonics prosper here, Oklahoma (likely OKC, but maybe Tulsa) will eventually get a NHL team as well.

This city has come a long way since I moved here 15 years ago. Hell, when the minor league ballpark opened about 7 years ago there were sports reporters from across the nation reporting on opening day. Many were jealous and commented that it rivaled most major league stadiums.

I think comparing ATT Field (or whatever it's called) to a MLB ball park is a HUGE stretch, but it is beautiful and in a great designed area. The bricktown experience is better than some ball parks in my opinion, but it's unfair to compare them.

I don't see NHL hockey coming here. Tulsa and OKC both have AAA teams and support them quite well.

 

[DanCPA]

I don't see NHL hockey coming here.

Given that the AAA teams are well taken care of, and the problems faced by the Predators in Nashville among other NHL teams, they are no doubt looking for possible relocation areas...
And if Oklahoma proves that it can sustain an NBA market, why not bring the NHL too... especially for all the NHL teams which are struggling financially

 

[gblews]

Dunleavy was on the radio yesterday and told his side of things. (He's the coach and the GM since Eligin Baylor basically is a figurehead that scouts and gives assessment on players.) According to him Brand really screwed the team over on this one. Brand made a verbal agreement with the team and the team did everything he wanted, including signing Baron Davis. Everything seemed fine and he was texting his teammates about how excited he was. He even texted Dunleavy to change the wording on his contract, and Dunleavy got it done over night. Then he stops returning calls.

The facts are that the Clippers have made unprofessional behavior, mishandling talent, and generally jerking players and agents around, an every day business practise. So this time they're the ones possibly getting jerked around. I say it serves them right.

Maybe they'll learn something from this. Yeah, I kidding. Sterling will never learn.

 

[gblews]

The NBA is coming to Oklahoma! I have already placed my name on the "season ticket holder waiting list"

I would love to buy some cheap lower level seats to see the NBA in OKC!

Too bad it cost a dedicated fanbase with a rich history their team.

No ill will intended for the OKC fans, I'm sure you guys will do a great job suppporting the team, but it's still a crappy situation.

Dedicated fan base? I don't care for sports (much less basketball) and from what I've read in both the Seattle and Oklahoma City news, attendance for the Sonics has been pitiful the last 10 years. OKC had to add another phone line for people ordering tickets because demand has been huge here. No one thought OKC would be able to support the Hornets, and the turnout was awesome for every game. The Hornets were so impressed that many of them did not want to return to New Orleans.

Easy enough to draw crowds for a short series of games especially when the team is winning. The tale will be told when the Sonics (or whoever they'll be) fail to progress quickley enough for the fans. After the novelty of having a pro team in the neighborhood wears off, will the folks still come out? At this point no one knows since the region has never had a pro team on an extended basis.

The city of Charlotte supported the Hornets for years until losing and familiarity finally wore down the fanbase. So we'll see what happens with this little experiment.

 

[DanCPA]

Easy enough to draw crowds for a short series of games especially when the team is winning. The tale will be told when the Sonics (or whoever they'll be) fail to progress quickley enough for the fans.

Well, the OKC fans supported the Hornets when they weren't supposed to be any good...

The city of Charlotte supported the Hornets for years until losing and familiarity finally wore down the fanbase. So we'll see what happens with this little experiment.

And they are not supporting the Bobcats now. I don't think NC is an NBA state.

 

[John Picard]

Too bad it cost a dedicated fanbase with a rich history their team.

No ill will intended for the OKC fans, I'm sure you guys will do a great job suppporting the team, but it's still a crappy situation.

Dedicated fan base? I don't care for sports (much less basketball) and from what I've read in both the Seattle and Oklahoma City news, attendance for the Sonics has been pitiful the last 10 years. OKC had to add another phone line for people ordering tickets because demand has been huge here. No one thought OKC would be able to support the Hornets, and the turnout was awesome for every game. The Hornets were so impressed that many of them did not want to return to New Orleans.

Easy enough to draw crowds for a short series of games especially when the team is winning. The tale will be told when the Sonics (or whoever they'll be) fail to progress quickley enough for the fans. After the novelty of having a pro team in the neighborhood wears off, will the folks still come out? At this point no one knows since the region has never had a pro team on an extended basis.

The city of Charlotte supported the Hornets for years until losing and familiarity finally wore down the fanbase. So we'll see what happens with this little experiment.

I don't know. The Hornets didn't win a lot here, but the fans kept the Ford Center *packed* every night a game was played.