Sonics Fans Rejoice: All Signs Are Pointing To NBA Basketball Returning To Seattle As Soon As 2028

Rocky Widner. Getty Images.

With the NBA's Board of Governors wrapping up today, that meant it was time for Adam Silver to hit the podium and face the media on a wide variety of league topics. He touched on the Clippers' punishment, the CBA, a potential Blazers relocation, and of course, the NBA's pending expansion to both Las Vegas and Seattle.

I think at this point we can all agree that expansion is inevitable, so the question is more when it might actually happen as opposed to if it'll happen. There's certainly enough talent in the NBA to add two more teams, and considering the going rate for an NBA franchise these days, I have little doubt the collection of owners will push back on bringing both Vegas and Seattle into the mix.

If you're a Sonics fan, I'd consider this latest update to be tremendous news. Adam Silver easily could have gone up there and dropped the bomb that things had fallen apart with Seattle and they were looking for other cities to join Vegas, so I see this latest update as a huge win. A final verdict coming by the end of 2026, with the new teams ready to roll by 2028? Shit, it'll be 2028 in the blink of an eye! Considering the people of Seattle have been waiting for something like this to happen since 2008, what's another 1.5 years? Who knows what took the NBA this long to finally right the wrong of Clay Bennet ripping the Sonics out of Seattle and bringing them to OKC, but from the sound of things, everything is full steam ahead to bringing a team back to the Emerald City. It's about damn time.

And it obviously goes without saying that the NBA should not overthink things when it comes to Seattle and just bring back the Sonics. Same name, same jerseys, same color scheme, all of it. Figure out what fine print needs to be handled when it comes to the history/OKC and give the people what they want. We don't need a new team with new branding or any of that shit. We need the Sonics

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Considering adding these two teams would also most likely mean a team like the Timberwolves would be coming to the East, that's even more reason to do it if you ask me. Adding Anthony Edwards & Co to the Eastern Conference would be awesome, although I'm sure Wolves fans would maybe rage because after being stuck in a loaded West they'd be moving to a now loaded East, but that's why I want it to happen. I say the more talent the merrier. Let's see if Ant is really "That Guy" the way he's talked about as he enters a phase of his career where its officially time to put up or shut up and finally break through and make a Finals/win a title. 

Let's also not forget, aside from it being great that the Sonics would be back and there'd be a new team in Vegas, we'd also get to see how every team would handle the expansion Draft and who would and wouldn't be protected. As of now, existing teams are allowed to protect up to 8 players from their roster ahead of the expansion Draft. If that were to still be the number, that presents a few tough decisions for certain teams out there that are deep as hell. Remember, in this new CBA the name of the game is depth, so aside from the apron restrictions teams deciding who to protect could also go a long way in shaping the landscape of the NBA. Does a win now vet get left off in order to protect a younger player? If so, what if that hurts a teams immediate title contention? Do we see teams pass up protecting younger and unproven players to keep established guys so they can contend, which then limits their future? It's all going to be fascinating. 

So to any Sonics fans out there, just hold on a little longer. Barring something crazy, NBA basketball should be back in your lives before you know it.