The locals are reaching for the familiar, the history, that is the Saints (that's what it looks like from far away) and maybe they are not reaching for the historically newer Hornets. Maybe things will change, the team is worth watching now, and maybe now isn't the time. What about next year, or the end of next year? At what point does the city not embracing the team the way they do so much else in NO indicate that the Hornets are, or not, making it there?
For the Hornets, they have some fans still following the team, still wanting them (not just some team, but the Hornets) back in Oklahoma City. If OKC is willing to open its arms and wallets to Bennett and the strangers right now (and forever) called the Sonics, then why not the Hornets? Shin has the track record there to get the right to ask. If he waits too long then that option is closed, too soon and the NBA looks bad. What about at the end of next year? That's the point, make or break, where Shin can go back to OKC if things are not working out in New Orleans, after a good faith effort (a real one, not a Bennett one).
This, and many things, hang on the Sonics and the City of Seattle's results in the court. If, as anybody can reasonably conclude from reading the arena lease, that the Sonics are bound by the contract to play its regular season home games in Key Arena through 2010, then the Hornets have a choice to make before that time.
And, as so many things depend on this, the Sonics have an offer from Seattle to keep them here into the future and draw more revenue for the league and team than they could if they were moved, then why move them?
Would the league deny itself and the owner of the franchise that has already shown that they have a fan base in OKC more revenue? At the same time, would the league allow itself and the franchise less revenue just to make one owner a local hero?
I don't think the fans in OKC care one way or another, maybe they care more for the team they hosted.
In this fuzzy furure I can clearly see the Hornets in OKC in 2010, and the Sonics in Seattle for a very long time. Owners come and go, they do, franchises do not, not with the same frequency. I don't go to the games to cheer on the owners, never. Rashard Lewis played under three owner's contracts here.
If the Hornets are not making it by 2009, and a plan is on the table in Seattle, then I don't see the NBA moving two teams to solve one revenue problem. I think the application to relocate has as much to do with Bennett beating Shin to the OKC market before it is shut off to him, that explains the early attempt to relocate to me. They knew before they took ownership that they would loose money through 2010, but less than a year into it they freak out over money? Bullshit! They are playing that card now because they have to now, before Shin.
This, as always, comes down to Seattle providing a better option to stay than to move, no matter what anybody else does, or what any idiot says about it, including Sam Smith, even if he is right for many of the wrong reasons.
Have a great day,
Mr Baker
Sent from my iPhone
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