http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/489..._oklahoma_city/</p> Move announced at the beginning of the season. Boy biggest move since what the Hornets to NO. Kings to Sac?</p>
I'm hoping for last minute intervention by Stern and the owners. Seattle is one of the original franchises and a great basketball city. Huge loss for the league if this goes through. If it does go through, hopefully Seattle can be first in line for relocation of an NBA franchise.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> [snip] Seattle is one of the original franchises [snip]</p> </div></p> The Supersonics were an expansion team.</p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kidd Karma)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Kings to Sac?</p> </div></p> </p> What do you mean? Kingsare in Sac.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Other than the loss of center Marvin Webster to New York, the SuperSonics roster stayed largely intact during the off-season, and in the 1978–79 season they went on to win their first division title. In the playoffs, the Supersonics defeated the Phoenix Suns in a tough seven game conference final series to set up a rematch with the Washington Bullets in the finals. This time, the Bullets lost to the SuperSonics in five games to give Seattle its first, and so far only, NBA title. The championship team roster included the powerful backcourt tandem of Gus Williams and Finals MVP Dennis Johnson, second year All-Star center Jack Sikma, forwards John Johnson and Lonnie Shelton, and key reserves Fred Brown and Paul Silas.</div> (Wikipedia)</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The SuperSonics began setting a new foundation with the drafting of forward Shawn Kemp in 1989 and guard Gary Payton in 1990, and the trading of Dale Ellis and Xavier McDaniel to other teams during the 1990–91 season. It was George Karl's arrival as head coach in 1992, however, that marked a return to regular season and playoff competitiveness for the SuperSonics. With the continued improvement of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, the SuperSonics posted a 55–27 record in the 1992-93 season and took the Phoenix Suns to seven games in the Western Conference Finals.</p> The next year, the SuperSonics had the best record in the NBA in 1994 at 63–19 record, but suffered a humiliating first round loss to the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first #1 seed to lose a playoff series to a #8 seed. After playing the 1994–95 season in the Tacoma Dome the team moved to the renamed Key Arena for the 1995–96 season. Perhaps the strongest roster the Supersonics ever had was the 1995–96 team, which had a franchise best 64–18 record. With a deep roster comprised of All-NBA Second Team selections Kemp and Payton, forward Detlef Schrempf, center Sam Perkins, guard Hersey Hawkins, and guard Nate McMillan, the team reached the NBA Finals, but lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. Seattle continued to be a Western Conference powerhouse during the next two seasons, winning 57 games in 1996–97 and 61 games in 1997–98 for their second and third straight Pacific Division titles. At the end of the 1997–98 season long-time Sonic and defensive specialist Nate McMillan retired.</div></p> How can the Sonics leave all of this^ history behind?? As Kemp being my all-time favorite NBA player, I'll be disappointed, pissed, and sad if they really do leave. There's too much good history there to just leave behind.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetBall)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kidd Karma)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Kings to Sac?</p> </div></p> </p> What do you mean? Kingsare in Sac.</p> </div></p> Sonics move to OK City would be furthest an NBA franchise has relocated since the Kansas City Kings moved to Sacramento in 1985. While in their infancy in Sacramento the Kings played in what later became a Costco or Price Club, now it's an office building. But that place was such a homecourt advantage that first year, the lowly Kings beat the defending champs Celtics. I think they even witnessed a Larry Bird missed free throw.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kidd Karma)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetBall)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kidd Karma)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Kings to Sac?</p> </div></p> </p> What do you mean? Kingsare in Sac.</p> </div></p> Sonics move to OK City would be furthest an NBA franchise has relocated since the Kansas City Kings moved to Sacramento in 1985. While in their infancy in Sacramento the Kings played in what later became a Costco or Price Club, now it's an office building. But that place was such a homecourt advantage that first year, the lowly Kings beat the defending champs Celtics. I think they even witnessed a Larry Bird missed free throw.</p> </p> </div></p> Are you sure about this? The Grizz moved to a whole new country.</p> </p>
