Sonics (Kings) returning as soon as next season?

[Chris]

What happened to Anaheim?  I thought they had all but commited to move there if Sacramento didnt get a deal by a certain date?

Seattle really needs a team though, so I hope if its not the Kings, some other team moves there soon.

[jambr380]

I definitely like the idea of Seattle getting a team again - they certainly deserve one. And, while I love the name, 'Supersonics', I don't think they should bring back the name. It's like they would be pretending that they never lost their team in the first place - kind of like how the Cleveland Browns got a new franchise, but their real team is in Baltimore. What's really annoying is they talk about past Browns statistics and comparing them to now. We all know it's not the same franchise.

What they 'should' do is move the Kings to OKC and bring the Thunder back to Seattle, but that would be a little ridiculous.

It would be exactly like the Cleveland Browns situation.  They'd definitely be called the Sonics.  Frankly, it would be easier to sell Seattle fans on rooting for the "SOnics" than a brand new franchise. 

I don't really see the Kings as having much of an identity at this point anyways.  It's not like Chris Webber and Vlade Divac would suddenly be the "Sonics" when everyone knows they are really Kings.  Luckily the Kings are so young and (to the general public) unknown that I think Seattle would get on board with Tyreke Evans, Demarcus Cousins and whoever they take in the lotto.  It would be irritating seeing the Thunder dominate, though while the "Sonics" continue to be a bottom dweller for the foreseeable future.

Ray Allen is a free agent... maybe they can sign him to be a mentor.  Maybe they can hire Gary Payton as the coach.  Who knows... they can do something to make the team feel like the Sonics.

I do agree with you that now is as good of a time as any to move the franchise. Evans and Cousins are good, young players, but they are nothing like the Kings teams of 8-10 years ago.

I also agree that it would be stupid not to call them the Sonics. Obviously this is by far the best way to sell the franchise (Cleveland didn't call their team the 'Purples').