The wait remains to see if other groups “will get involved” in the pursuit of an NBA franchise in Seattle, but the only organization to express its intent so far is “ready for whatever the next steps call for,” according to Tim Booth of the SEATTLE TIMES. One Roof Sports & Entertainment CEO Tod Leiweke said, “We started this journey eight years ago intentful to bring the NBA back, and we are going to lean in.” Kraken majority owner Samantha Holloway earlier this week announced the formation of One Roof Sports & Entertainment as an umbrella company — “a sign to the NBA” that One Roof “appears to have its affairs in order with space to add an NBA franchise.” Leiweke declined to get into specifics about any structure or parties expected to be involved in the bid. Holloway is “expected to lead the bid One Roof puts forward,” and NBA rules “require that the controlling owner of the franchise holds at least a minimum threshold” of a 15% share. Private equity can hold up to 20%, and anyone who wants to buy in must invest at least 1% of the purchase price. Leiweke said, “We will put together a bid that has it all.” To date there “hasn’t been publicly known competition in terms of a potential competing bid” (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/25).
MAKING PROGRESS: In Seattle, Matt Calkins wrote the “real story would have been if the vote went the other way, but this still feels like progress you can touch.” Now, the likelihood for a Sonics return is “sitting somewhere between highly probable and inevitable.” And “though it’s fair for Sonics fans to hold the ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ mentality, it seems the NBA’s power brokers believe they will, indeed, see it.” It seems everyone covering the NBA is “viewing the additions of a Seattle and Vegas franchise as imminent, not questionable.” Calkins wrote, “Dare I say … it’s time to believe?” Calkins: “The NFL is here. MLB is here. The NHL is here. A major college football program is here. The WNBA, MLS, NWSL and PWHL — they’re all here, too.” There is only one “hoop-sized hole left and that’s on the verge of being filled” (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/25).
MIXED FEELINGS? In Seattle, Percy Allen wrote the timing “couldn’t have been any more serendipitous” — on the night when “a handful of Sonics legends gathered in front of a small crowd for a ceremony honoring them and their former team,” the vote came through on exploring expansion in Seattle. Former NBAer Xavier McDaniel, who played six years (1985-91) with the Sonics, said, “I’m ecstatic. … The team should have never left and we shouldn’t even be at this point, but we are. Eighteen years later, the city of Seattle finally got their team back. I think everybody should be happy.” But Basketball HOFer Gary Payton was “comparatively less enthusiastic” than his former teammates. Payton said, “I wasn’t excited because I’ve known this for a long time.” Payton: “I was excited for the fans because I know how long they’ve been waiting. How much they want this to happen. But me personally, I’ll be excited when they tell me we’re about to announce it for real and everything is done. We’re getting there, just not there yet” (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/25).
REALIGNMENT: In Las Vegas, Mick Akers wrote adding two West Coast teams “would force the NBA to realign the Eastern and Western conferences, with 16 teams each.” Las Vegas and Seattle would “be primed for placement” in the Western Conference. That would force the NBA to “move one current Western Conference team to the Eastern Conference.” Realignment candidates include the T’Wolves and the Grizzlies (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/25).