Oklahoma City? St. Louis? I'm guessing they'd want to keep them out west so they wouldn't have to shift another team to the Western Ceonference, what about Mexico City?


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2407965


Stern questions Seattle's commitment to Sonics

Associated Press


NEW YORK -- David Stern gave another warning that the SuperSonics could eventually leave Seattle, saying Thursday that the city is, "not interested in having the NBA there."

The NBA commissioner also touched on the situations regarding the Trail Blazers and Hornets during a conference call, but his strongest words were saved for the Sonics' future in Seattle.

Stern has said the Sonics' lease with the city is the worst in the NBA, and he went to Seattle in February to ask Washington state lawmakers for tax money to renovate Key Arena.

Sonics owner Howard Schultz, the chairman of Starbucks Corp., has threatened to move or sell the team if state lawmakers don't approve a sales-tax package to pay for a new or renovated arena. But state lawmakers last month said there would be no deal this year.

"... They're not interested in having the NBA there. ... we understand that there are competing issues, and the mayor is free to make whatever decisions he needs to make and I support that. But that's a pretty strong signal and I think that the existing ownership has said they don't want to own a team that's not in Seattle, so I know what they're in the process of doing. "

"I would say that the city is making it pretty clear of what they want us to do, and we'll accommodate them," Stern said.

Asked what that meant, Stern responded: "What I mean is they're not interested in having the NBA there. We understand that, we understand that there are competing issues, and the mayor is free to make whatever decisions he needs to make and I support that.

"But that's a pretty strong signal and I think that the existing ownership has said they don't want to own a team that's not in Seattle, so I know what they're in the process of doing. So we'll just see how this play ends."

Marianne Bichsel, spokeswoman for Mayor Greg Nickels, said the city wants the Sonics to remain in Seattle.

"The mayor has made it perfectly clear in several interviews given, the Sonics have been in Seattle for 40-plus years, and we would like them around another 40-plus years and we'd like them at Key Arena," she said. "We're in discussions with the Sonics a lot about the situation, but we have a lease through 2010 and we fully expect that the lease will be honored."

The Sonics declined comment on Stern's quotes.

But once the lease expires in 2010, it doesn't sound as if the league would stand in the way if ownership wants to move the franchise.

"It's not a very good lease, to say the least it's the worst in the league," Stern said. "The city says they're not prepared to do anything to improve it. I don't think this is a difficult choice."

Also, Stern said he would "never say never" to getting involved again in the situation in Portland. The NBA recently pulled out of the process of trying to help find one buyer for both the Trail Blazers and the Rose Garden because it was frustrated by Portland Arena Management, the lenders who now own the arena.

And he repeated that the Hornets will return to New Orleans, even if investors from Oklahoma buy a minority share of the team from George Shinn, saying that he didn't even know how the Hornets would get out of their lease with the city.

"I have no idea," he said, "because we're not planning to break it."

wow i say move them to CT thats where i live no pro teams here but that would never happen.

Tennessee would be a good spot. The Vols and Lady Vols get a lot of love there.

Stern is going to punish the Sonics by trading their roster for the Knicks.

Tennessee would be a good spot. The Vols and Lady Vols get a lot of love there.

Connecticut also seems to be a great basketball area. I think that would draw in some New York interest, but I don't see Stern moving another East team to replace a West team. I would think they would stay near the coast, probably California. San Diego?

If that's the case, maybe that LV deal is close?

How about Kansas City?! Great basketball town.

Vegas.

Vegas.
Will never happen for the NBA. Stern loathes the gambling environment too much to put a team there. all star game=ok ...team=no way in hell.

Plus Vegas doesn't have enough of a fan base to be popular enough for Stern's liking. Too much of a tourest haven. Not saying it won't happen, it's just not likely.

Vegas.
Will never happen for the NBA. Stern loathes the gambling environment too much to put a team there. all star game=ok ...team=no way in hell.

$$$$. Stern will die eventually. No way sporting franchises can continue to ignore the absolute boom that is Vegas. You could sell the boxes for 10 years in 1 hour with no advertising. I'm not saying its next, but its coming for sure.

Plus Vegas doesn't have enough of a fan base to be popular enough for Stern's liking. Too much of a tourest haven. Not saying it won't happen, it's just not likely.
to the city's credit they have the fastest growing population in america. but the gambling issue has kept away and will continue to keep away teams in the nfl and nba. gambling aint shit to you or me. but to the leagues it isnt looked at in a well manner.

That's true, but I really can't see with all of the activities to do in Vegas that an NBA game would be on everyone's minds. It's took hectic of a city to have a regular fan base.

That's true, but I really can't see with all of the activities to do in Vegas that an NBA game would be on everyone's minds. It's took hectic of a city to have a regular fan base.
You could say the same about LA. And actually the lakers couldnt sell out a game to save their lives if they were last in the west.

Tennessee already has an NBA team, so I don't see why they'd want another one. Their fanbase is kind of meh.

South Dakota seems like a pretty happening place to me. I think they should move it there.

But seriously, just keep that team away from Cali, Texas, and Florida. There are already way too many teams there.

My top three:

1. Vegas - Money and a great city.
2. Louisville - Kentucky has a great basketball fanbase. Unfortunately, the South sucks.
3. Vancou......Oklahoma City - Already proved that they can support an NBA team.

Plus Miami doesn't have enough of a fan base to be popular enough for Stern's liking. Too much of a tourest haven. Not saying it won't happen, it's just not likely.

Plus Miami doesn't have enough of a fan base to be popular enough for Stern's liking. Too much of a tourest haven. Not saying it won't happen, it's just not likely.
but miami never had gambling as its number one attraction in town. if that wasnt the case. vegas woulda had a team a long time ago.

the casinos would eat up a ton of boxes and season tickets to give away as comps. vegas would be perfect for an nba team, and it really is only a matter of time.

i'd put them in OK city though, they earned it this year.

incidentally, didnt espn say the league would have expanded to europe by 2010? dont see it happening.