Which city or cities would you like to see added to the NBA as possible relocation or future expansion?

Seattle...

Seattle...
/end thread

Seattle. It'd be a fun rivalry for once side and a hahahahaha for the other.

I submit that contraction should be considered. Eliminate the 4 biggest money losers, disperse the players in a lottery and stay that way for a while. Shrinking roster spots means deeper and better teams, less reason to keep head cases, and 40+ players not leaving college early, thereby strengthening the college game.

Relocation:

Anaheim, Kansas City, Louisville or St. Louis in the event of relocation. These cities have a viable arena which could meet NBA standards with some modifications.

Expansion:

Louisville, Seattle or Norfolk-Virginia Beach for future expansion which probably won't be considered until after 2020.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

I submit that contraction should be considered. Eliminate the 4 biggest money losers, disperse the players in a lottery and stay that way for a while. Shrinking roster spots means deeper and better teams, less reason to keep head cases, and 40+ players not leaving college early, thereby strengthening the college game.

Lots of problems with this.

1st and foremost the NBA could care less about strengthening the college game. A nice thought, but not a reality.
2nd the lastest round of labor talks eliminated teams losing money with the new sharing system. Super profitable teams subsidize the unprofitable ones.
3rd the NBA is fixing to sign a TV contract that will more then likely double TV revenue. Not a good time to shrink
4th smart business people (and NBA owners are that) don't ever shrink when the product is increasing in profitability, popularity, and ever other metric possible. They grow it.

Just consider in 2 years the league has gone from this, Sources: NBA going forward with plan to take over New Orleans Hornets - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5887687) struggling to find an owner for the Hornets, and then selling them for $338 million Board of Governors approves sale of New Orleans Hornets - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8049829/board-governors-approves-sale-new-orleans-hornets)
To this
Kings- $534 million
Bucks $550 million
Clippers $2 billion

The NBA is booming. Companies expand in booms.

Veteran NBA referee Bavetta retires after 39 years...

https://sp2.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608050400224217598&pid=15.1&P=0

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1FriBOVsBr15lHmlGHbz7vjSG-tTdpP3n99GcENlT4WBodx_Skw

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/veteran-nba-ref-bavetta-retires-184650891--nba.html


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Relocation:

Anaheim, Kansas City, Louisville or St. Louis in the event of relocation. These cities have a viable arena which could meet NBA standards with some modifications.

Expansion:

Louisville, Seattle or Norfolk-Virginia Beach for future expansion which probably won't be considered until after 2020.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Kansas City's Sprint Center would be a great venue for an NBA team. I've attended a few BIG 12 bball tournaments there and really enjoyed the atmosphere the arena provides.

KC would be overextended with three pro teams, plus an MLS team and the Kansas motor speedway. Two million residents in it's metro, another professional team would severely overextend that market.

I submit that contraction should be considered. Eliminate the 4 biggest money losers, disperse the players in a lottery and stay that way for a while. Shrinking roster spots means deeper and better teams, less reason to keep head cases, and 40+ players not leaving college early, thereby strengthening the college game.

Contraction is probably even more unlikely than expansion (which I doubt will happen anytime soon either). Most of the teams have a legal obligation to play for several more years due to when stadiums were built, for the owners having a team is an ego thing, more often than not who is bad cycles around and most of the owners who's either management flaws or unwillingness/unable to spend made theme perpetual doormats are gone. Now that there is revenue sharing even the worst ran teams are making more money and with a new TV deal in a couple years will only increase that. Also the union would fight it all the way. Then there is the problem that it would take a ridiculous amount of money to buy out four teams to shut them down (which will not help ratings in four of the largest cities of the country), then if the money falls out of TV advertising like it has print then it would be a huge waste of money for nothing. On top of all that for the owners, taking out what are four teams that will likely give you wins will hurt your record.

KC would be overextended with three pro teams, plus an MLS team and the Kansas motor speedway. Two million residents in it's metro, another professional team would severely overextend that market.

So true!

Kansas City, MO-KS is currently an overextended market with 2.1 million; they support

MLB: Kansas City Royals
NFL: Kansas City Chiefs
MLS: Sporting Kansas City (Stadium located on the Kansas City, Kansas side)

Denver is currently an overextended market with 2.7 million; they support

MLB: Colorado Rockies
NFL: Denver Broncos
NBA: Denver Nuggets
NHL: Colorado Avalanche
MLS: Colorado Rapids

Using the rule of having a minimum of 1 million persons per major league sport (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) and 500,000+ to support MLS; Kansas City is overextended along with Denver. These cities are among the highest in per capita income: Denver $51,088, Kansas City $46,193. These cities have the potential to support probably one additional franchise which means they would be and marginal to support those additional teams long-term.

Top Ten Overextended Sports Markets (2003 data):

1. PHOENIX
2. TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
3. PITTSBURGH
4. KANSAS CITY
5. DENVER
6. MILWAUKEE
7. CINCINNATI
8. BUFFALO
9. INDIANAPOLIS
10. RALEIGH-DURHAM

The 10 most overextended sports markets in America - SportsBusiness Daily | SportsBusiness Journal | SportsBusiness Daily Global (http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2003/01/20030106/Sports-Capacity/The-10-Most-Overextended-Sports-Markets-In-America.aspx)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

San Diego? Give the military a wee break on ticket prices.

Expand by adding 10 teams.

Cut it into 2-tiers. NBA Premier, and then just the NBA.

Each tier has 4 divisions of 5.

Play your four division opponents 4 times, play 3 times vs. the other 15 teams (totals 61 games). Play all 20 teams in the other league once or play half of the other league 2 times, I don't care.

The playoffs are the top teams from each division + 2 wild cards. Still best-of-7 series.

Lowest team in each division in the Premier every season gets booted to the NBA, and the reverse for NBA to Premier. In addition then next 2 worst Premier teams and 2 best NBA teams move up, regardless of division…winning the regular NBA championship guarantees you move to the Premier.

Expand to:

Seattle
Chicago (2nd)
Tampa
Kansas City
St. Louis
Austin
Raleigh/Durham
Pittsburgh
???
???

Expand by adding 10 teams.

Cut it into 2-tiers. NBA Premier, and then just the NBA.

Each tier has 4 divisions of 5.

Play your four division opponents 4 times, play 3 times vs. the other 15 teams (totals 61 games). Play all 20 teams in the other league once or play half of the other league 2 times, I don't care.

The playoffs are the top teams from each division + 2 wild cards. Still best-of-7 series.

Lowest team in each division in the Premier every season gets booted to the NBA, and the reverse for NBA to Premier. In addition then next 2 worst Premier teams and 2 best NBA teams move up, regardless of division…winning the regular NBA championship guarantees you move to the Premier.

Expand to:

Seattle
Chicago (2nd)
Tampa
Kansas City
St. Louis
Austin
Raleigh/Durham
Pittsburgh
???
???

Seattle (even by their own analysis in what support they will do for Hanson building an arena with his own money), Tampa, Kansas City, St. Louis and Pittsburgh are all either right at the border of being over extended now or already over it, none of them are in a good position to support another team.

I really doubt that any of the current owners would be open to getting into a system that could drop them down to second tier league any given year, let alone ten dropping immediately. The schedule only having 61 'Premier' games seems like a good way to loose both ticket and TV revenue, having a Premier team play a non Premier team sounds about as appealing as watching an NBA team play a d-league team. This may violate every contract from arena deals to the TV contracts, I have some doubts you will get everyone all that interested in this to change them. The owners even before the Thunder were purchased have been highly opposed to expanding as much as two teams, expanding 10 teams would be huge undertaking and extremely risky even if some of them thought it was in their best interest to do so.

It probably would be a hard sell to the player's union, less tier one teams means less star contracts, it might balance out with more assurance of veteran year to play but that is hard to say which way they go. Lower tier teams do not have great reputations for paying a lot.

Hey…I didn't say it would happen or would even have much of a shot.

Seriously there is absolutely no reason to expand right now

Derrick Rose out of U.S. exhibition

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose was a last-minute scratch Wednesday night from Team USA's exhibition game against the Dominican Republic at Madison Square Garden.

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose sitting out Team USA exhibition at Madison Square Garden - ESPN Chicago (http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/11384486/chicago-bulls-star-derrick-rose-sitting-team-usa-exhibition-madison-square-garden)

Just couldn't see why Derrick Rose would be out on the court to represent team USA. Rose has been off the court more than on since becoming a member of the Chicago Bulls.

Bulls' Coach Tom Thibodeau is one of the assistants for team USA. You would think that with Derrick Rose's history of injuries that he would be encourage Rose to sit his hips out and go home permanently.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

I don't think St Louis will ever get an NBA team again or they have to offer it to the guys who owned the old ABA.

which is a really neat story
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/sports/basketball/former-aba-owners-ozzie-and-daniel-silna-earn-millions-from-nba.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Lots of rumors about Seattle and Louisville getting teams through expansion around the time the next TV contract is negotiated.

KC would be overextended with three pro teams, plus an MLS team and the Kansas motor speedway. Two million residents in it's metro, another professional team would severely overextend that market.

I'm from KC, and as much as I would LOVE for them to snag an NBA team, I have to agree. The professional teams they have now only get strong fan support when the teams are winning games, with the exception of Sporting which is the new-kid-on-the-block. Although, the KC metro as a whole is so basketball crazed (mainly due to KU and their bball team being so close) that I do think an NBA team there would flourish. It would just come at the expense of the existing professional teams.

I'm from KC, and as much as I would LOVE for them to snag an NBA team, I have to agree. The professional teams they have now only get strong fan support when the teams are winning games, with the exception of Sporting which is the new-kid-on-the-block. Although, the KC metro as a whole is so basketball crazed (mainly due to KU and their bball team being so close) that I do think an NBA team there would flourish. It would just come at the expense of the existing professional teams.

The Sacramento Kings trace their ancestry through KC when they were the KC and KC/Omaha Royals.

I don't think St Louis will ever get an NBA team again or they have to offer it to the guys who owned the old ABA.

which is a really neat story
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/sports/basketball/former-aba-owners-ozzie-and-daniel-silna-earn-millions-from-nba.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Good article, but could not find any follow up on either a ruling or a settlement. Pro basketball in the 60's and 70's was quite interesting and both leagues had their strong points as well as deficiencies. Some of the possible expansion cities I see posters putting out there had franchises in the ABA. Louisville, Pittsburgh, Virginia, St. Louis, Chicago(2nd), San Diego, all former ABA cities.

The ten largest markets without an NBA franchise:

1. Seattle
2. San Diego
3. Tampa-St. Petersburg (Orlando Magic's area)
4. St. Louis
5. Baltimore (Washington Wizards' area)
6. Pittsburgh
7. Cincinnati
8. Kansas City
9. Las Vegas
10. Columbus

The five largest potential 'break-through' cities without an NBA franchise:

1. Austin, TX 1.9 million
2. Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA 1.7 million
3. Providence, RI 1.6 million
4. Louisville, KY 1.3 million
5. Richmond, VA 1.2 million

Recent 'break-through' cities:

1. 2007: Oklahoma City 1.3 million (NBA - Oklahoma City Thunder)
2. 2000: Columbus 2.0 million (NHL - Columbus Blue Jackets)
3. 2001: Memphis 1.3 million (NBA - Memphis Grizzlies)
4. 1997: Raleigh-Durham 1.3 million (NHL - Carolina Hurricanes) Note: Greensboro metro area (800,000) just 70 from Raleigh.
5. 1974: Hartford 1.2 million (loss NHL Hartford Whalers to Raleigh-Durham)

Break-through city: City acquires their first major professional franchise (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL).


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Love traded to Cavaliers, joins LeBron


Now the league's best player has another superstar as a running mate. Add in All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving and James again finds himself the ringleader of a star-studded trio after leaving Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade behind with the Heat.

Love traded to Cavaliers, joins LeBron | NBA.com (http://www.nba.com/2014/news/08/23/report-love-wiggins-deal-final.ap/)

Another three headed monster for the NBA teams to challenge:


LeBron James & the Extremes
https://sp2.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.607990605692207238&pid=15.1&P=0
Pictured from left to right: Kevin Love, LeBron James (center) & Kyrie Irving.

http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

They group Raliegh with Greensboro to create a market. Well Tulsa is about the same distance from OKC so why isn't OKC claiming a pop of 2.3 mil? Just interesting to see how some of these smaller cities make claims. Seattle does much the same to make their pop look larger. SLC does as well.

They group Raliegh with Greensboro to create a market. Well Tulsa is about the same distance from OKC so why isn't OKC claiming a pop of 2.3 mil? Just interesting to see how some of these smaller cities make claims. Seattle does much the same to make their pop look larger. SLC does as well.

When talking to the league the owners stated that there was an expectation there would be a following and sales from Tulsa, as far as why the metropolitan stats are still separate is the economies are not intertwined enough by the methods they use to merge the two.

i submit that contraction should be considered. Eliminate the 4 biggest money losers, disperse the players in a lottery and stay that way for a while. Shrinking roster spots means deeper and better teams, less reason to keep head cases, and 40+ players not leaving college early, thereby strengthening the college game.

this^^

Expand by adding 10 teams.

Cut it into 2-tiers. NBA Premier, and then just the NBA.

Each tier has 4 divisions of 5.

Play your four division opponents 4 times, play 3 times vs. the other 15 teams (totals 61 games). Play all 20 teams in the other league once or play half of the other league 2 times, I don't care.

The playoffs are the top teams from each division + 2 wild cards. Still best-of-7 series.

Lowest team in each division in the Premier every season gets booted to the NBA, and the reverse for NBA to Premier. In addition then next 2 worst Premier teams and 2 best NBA teams move up, regardless of division…winning the regular NBA championship guarantees you move to the Premier.

Expand to:

Seattle
Chicago (2nd)
Tampa
Kansas City
St. Louis
Austin
Raleigh/Durham
Pittsburgh
???
???

Relegation? http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/23/868da6a6d48951b56d0ef9a45e5109b0.jpg

I'm from KC, and as much as I would LOVE for them to snag an NBA team, I have to agree. The professional teams they have now only get strong fan support when the teams are winning games, with the exception of Sporting which is the new-kid-on-the-block. Although, the KC metro as a whole is so basketball crazed (mainly due to KU and their bball team being so close) that I do think an NBA team there would flourish. It would just come at the expense of the existing professional teams.

Sporting KC isn't really new though. They have been around since the MLS started in 1996. They have gone through several name changes and stadiums though.

Sporting KC isn't really new though. They have been around since the MLS started in 1996. They have gone through several name changes and stadiums though.


Who knows, Denver & Kansas City are situated in some rich counties. Could they be an exception to the rule? It would definitely be a risk that could extremely overextend the market.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

.

What's coming out of Barcelona?


Rockets sign Greek forward Kostas Papanikolaou to two-year deal

https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608055051718888537&pid=15.1&P=0 https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608000604418802707&pid=15.1&P=0

Papanikolaou played for FC Barcelona Basquet last season and averaged 6.9 points in 25 minutes per game. He has won two Euroleague titles.

This offseason, the Rockets lost forward Chandler Parsons in free agency to the Dallas Mavericks and replaced him with Trevor Ariza.

Rockets sign Kostas Papanikolaou to two-year, $4.8 million deal - NBA - SI.com (http://www.si.com/nba/2014/09/23/rockets-sign-kostas-papanikolaou-two-year-contract)

Tyler Pleiss, a Thunder draftee, will spend the upcoming season in Barcelona... ...Thunder intend to bring the center to Oklahoma City for the 2015-16 season


https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608025519522516116&pid=15.1&P=0


24 years old, 7'1'' - 180 lbs., Pleiss brings a great deal of size to that frontcourt though and has the ability to stretch the floor with his shooting.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Tyler Pleiss, a Thunder draftee, will spend the upcoming season in Barcelona... ...Thunder intend to bring the center to Oklahoma City for the 2015-16 season

Tibor Pleiss. And, yeah, there was speculation mid-summer about Pleiss coming over this year, but then reports stated he'd likely come over next season. The Thunder also own the rights to Alex Abrines who Pleiss will play with this season. He's a good 3 point shooter who made the Spanish national team (which is good).

That 180 lbs is a typo right?

That 180 lbs is a typo right?

It is the wrong guy, the 180 pound guy is a 6'1" guard. The guy we have rights to is a foot taller, is listed as 269 lb and has a different first name.

That 180 lbs is a typo right?

pahdz: I wish...

Pleiss 7' 1" - 180 lbs., (from Omaha, NE) is probably too skinny to enter the NBA; they need to at least add 20 more pounds on Tyler. They have one year in which to beef up this young man.

The two smallest players by weight on the 2014-15 Thunder roster are:

Sebastian Telfair, 6' 0' - PG - 170
Jeremy Lamb, 6' 5" - SG - 185


Oklahoma City Thunder 2015 Team Roster - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

...
Pleiss 7' 1" - 180 lbs., (from Omaha, NE) is probably too skinny to enter the NBA; they need to at least add 20 more pounds on Tyler. They have one year in which to beef up this young man.

...

The guy is from German, from his bio it looks like he has never been to Omaha or Nebraska, and is listed as 242 to 269 pounds depending on the source,

Tibor Pliess is from Germany, and he was coming this year but the contract buyout was to much. He's a good offensive player with a very good shooting touch and good size at 7' 1" and 245.

You guys are ruining his random posts with lots of pictures.

.

THANK YOU...

Correction: My Bad!


Tibor Pleiss
German, 7'1" 269 lb Center

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdo6fvyz0stShuOWeGb3TF6UeZM64LS RlicR0mb0SXVbv028ul

Tibor; not Tyler

http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

The Thunder also own the rights to Alex Abrines who Pleiss will play with this season. He's a good 3 point shooter who made the Spanish national team (which is good).

That's correct dankrutka, Presti has some weapons stored in his overseas chest arsenal:


Alex Abrines

https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608053368093216646&pid=15.1&P=0 https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608013437785079896&pid=15.1&P=0
6' 6" Shooting guard/Small Forward, 190 lbs. Plays for FC Barcelona of the Spanish ACB League.
2013 Draft: Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd overall selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder

It will be great if any of these guys turn out to be as athletic with their play on the caliber of Serge Ibaka.

http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

I like Grumpy Cat.

I like Grumpy Cat.


Other funny internet memes besides Grumpy Cat

Pancake Bunny

http://i.imgur.com/ONrgqPi.jpg
Picture of a rabbit with a breakfast item placed on head for comedic effect.

Dancing Baby

http://i.imgur.com/8XqkfvQ.gif
One of the most widely-recognized GIFs in the early days of the World Wide Web;
featured on the popular television program "Ally McBeal."



http://i.imgur.com/0NVoRpP.jpg"Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty." --Axl Rose.http://i.imgur.com/0NVoRpP.jpg

The media pressure, expectations, support personnel and skill sets are on the line for team management as well as the key superstars.

Kevin Durant will have new challenges as a leader as OKC enters the 2014-15 season; he will need valuable support from Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams. IMO the key will be if the Thunder stays focused and healthy. NBA year 2014-15 will not be a 'do or die' season for the Thunder. It will be a year of decision for Sam Presti as the Thunder stay on track in pursuit of an NBA title. How valuable is Reggie Jackson--will the Thunder have to go over the CAP to keep this group cohesive?

Let's wish our Oklahoma City Thunder the best!


https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608000162047787478&pid=15.1&P=0


Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder have been in the thick of the fight in each of the past four years, falling short because of inexperience, bad luck and injury. Now, it's time for the next (and final) step.

Western Conference:

Los Angeles Lakers: As Kobe Bryant approaches retirement, the Lakers will have the most pressure as the Clippers' share the spotlight.

Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul's leadership will be a must. As a mature NBA point guard, Paul looks tired and weary as the Clippers has some great pieces (DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes & J. J. Redick) as they challenge the Spurs & Thunder for the Western Conference.

IMHO, if this team moves to Seattle; they won't have to share the spotlight with the Lakers. Move over Portland; Seattle Supersonics (Clippers) will form the NBA's hottest new rivalry with OKC.

San Antonio Spurs: It's always a tough challenge to repeat as NBA champions. Does a great coach like Gregg Popovich possess the energy to continue to step up his game?

Eastern Conference:

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James forms a new big three (with Kyrie Irving & Kevin Love). Their biggest challenge will be the expectations of the team as King James returns home. Can King James' leadership bring this team together?

Miami Heat: How will Dwayne Wade & Chris Bosh perform without LeBron James? The Heat now has plenty of CAP space with LeBron's return to Cleveland.

Chicago Bulls: The Bulls will have a new look as Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah welcome Pao Gasol to the Wendy City.

Let's not forget:

Portland Trailblazers: LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Damian Lillard will return to challenge the Thunder for the Northwest Division.

Indiana Pacers: Loss of Paul George will be huge. Roy Hibbert and George Hill will need C. J. Miles to pick up the slack.

5 NBA Superstars with the Most on the Line Entering 2014-15 | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2211723-5-nba-superstars-with-the-most-on-the-line-entering-2014-15/page/6)

I don't agree with all of the insights of the above Bleacher Report; however, they have their agenda.

From Washington State to Washington D. C., the Washington (DC) Post breaks its silence:

Could this be part of a backlash since Kevin Durant resigned with NIKE?

Seattle’s KeyArena lost money when the Sonics were there. It’s now turning a profit.


At least that’s the case in Seattle, where the departure of the Seattle SuperSonics for Oklahoma City after the 2007-08 season left KeyArena without its primary tenant and the city wondering how it could fill the void left by 41 departed home games per season (and the spending money of the fans who attended them).

Seattle?s KeyArena lost money when the Sonics were there. It?s now turning a profit. - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/10/07/seattles-keyarena-lost-money-when-the-sonics-were-there-its-now-turning-a-profit/)

Did they factor in the materiality that when the Supersonics' relocated that KeyArena became 'debt free' when the Professional Basketball Club LLC owners paid off the debts ($45 million) on KeyArena from the 1996 renovation as part of the lease settlement?

Recall: The Supersonics played in the 'smallest arena' with the least amount of revenue producing amenities in the NBA.

The media pressure, expectations, support personnel and skill sets are on the line for team management as well as the key superstars.

Kevin Durant will have new challenges as a leader as OKC enters the 2014-15 season; he will need valuable support from Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams. IMO the key will be if the Thunder stays focused and healthy. NBA year 2014-15 will not be a 'do or die' season for the Thunder. It will be a year of decision for Sam Presti as the Thunder stay on track in pursuit of an NBA title. How valuable is Reggie Jackson--will the Thunder have to go over the CAP to keep this group cohesive?

Let's wish our Oklahoma City Thunder the best!


https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608000162047787478&pid=15.1&P=0



Western Conference:

Los Angeles Lakers: As Kobe Bryant approaches retirement, the Lakers will have the most pressure as the Clippers' share the spotlight.

Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul's leadership will be a must. As a mature NBA point guard, Paul looks tired and weary as the Clippers has some great pieces (DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes & J. J. Redick) as they challenge the Spurs & Thunder for the Western Conference.

IMHO, if this team moves to Seattle; they won't have to share the spotlight with the Lakers. Move over Portland; Seattle Supersonics (Clippers) will form the NBA's hottest new rivalry with OKC.

San Antonio Spurs: It's always a tough challenge to repeat as NBA champions. Does a great coach like Gregg Popovich possess the energy to continue to step up his game?

Eastern Conference:

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James forms a new big three (with Kyrie Irving & Kevin Love). Their biggest challenge will be the expectations of the team as King James returns home. Can King James' leadership bring this team together?

Miami Heat: How will Dwayne Wade & Chris Bosh perform without LeBron James? The Heat now has plenty of CAP space with LeBron's return to Cleveland.

Chicago Bulls: The Bulls will have a new look as Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah welcome Pao Gasol to the Wendy City.

Let's not forget:

Portland Trailblazers: LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Damian Lillard will return to challenge the Thunder for the Northwest Division.

Indiana Pacers: Loss of Paul George will be huge. Roy Hibbert and George Hill will need C. J. Miles to pick up the slack.

5 NBA Superstars with the Most on the Line Entering 2014-15 | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2211723-5-nba-superstars-with-the-most-on-the-line-entering-2014-15/page/6)

I don't agree with all of the insights of the above Bleacher Report; however, they have their agenda.

WTF ? This article did not mention Griffin as one of the "great pieces" the Clippers have around Paul? Epic fail.

The new TV contract is insane.

WTF ? This article did not mention Griffin as one of the "great pieces" the Clippers have around Paul? Epic fail.

LMAO!

I think they limited the scope of their topic to the five teams' superstars, now why they left out Cleveland's LeBron James & OKC's Russell Westbrook is a mystery to me as well.

Cleveland: Kyrie Irving will have a challenge as this now becomes LeBron James' team. Kevin Love leaves Minnesota--this guy will need to improve his defensive play.

Los Angeles: Will Kobe Bryant limp his way out through retirement; how effective will he be coming off that Achilles' tendon tear?

Chicago: Derrick Rose needs to go to New Orleans, pay a visit to Miss Rudolph (Voodoo lady) to see if she can 'kill' that mojo injury hex someone put on him.

Just for fun: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjF_363jkAzcSz2_L8XF3VmXuLP1eCh BZ6E4BxGHWDZxIWMFIZhg Beverley-in-the-Rough

It will be an interesting matchup when Cleveland meets Miami--Wade and Bosh against James and Miller...

1. Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant
2. Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose
3. Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love,
4. Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade
5. Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

The new TV contract is insane.

So glad you brought this to our attention.

More nationally televised games: Under the current deal, corporate siblings ESPN and ABC broadcast 90 regular-season games while TNT broadcasts 52. Under terms of the new contract, ESPN/ABC will get an additional 10 games, and TNT will get another 12, meaning that 164 of the NBA's 1,230 regular season games (13.33 percent) will be nationally televised. While this represents increased exposure for the league, it also represents an enormous challenge. As it stands, the league's national-television scheduling process is a **** sandwich.

**** = Sh + third person singular unspecified LOL!

What The NBA's Insane New TV Deal Means For The League And For You (http://deadspin.com/what-the-nbas-insane-new-tv-deal-means-for-the-league-a-1642926274)

32 Thunder games on National TV: Oklahoma City Thunder 2015 Schedule - Thunder Home and Away - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/okc/seasontype/2/oklahoma-city-thunder)

DWade is a superstar? news to me.

DWade is a superstar? news to me.


Top 25 Highest Paid NBA Players For 2014-15 | The Hoop Doctors (http://thehoopdoctors.com/2014/08/top-25-highest-paid-nba-players-for-2014-15/)

I'd say the top 20 are superstars. DWade isn't int the top 20.

and even some of the top 20 I wouldn't call superstar. Marc Gasol? Rudy Gay? Bosh? Amare? come on, they aren't even first team.

and even some of the top 20 I wouldn't call superstar. Marc Gasol? Rudy Gay? Bosh? Amare? come on, they aren't even first team.

Gasol and Bosh could certainly be considered among the best 20 players in the league. Just depends on your list and what you value. Obviously not Amare and Gay. But contracts are obviously not a great measure of best players particularly considering how longevity in the league affects contracts. For example, LeBron has never been the highest paid player on a team until this season.

NBA 2014-15 Player Salaries:

HoopsHype - NBA Salaries (http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm)

NBA Player Salaries - National Basketball Association - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/salaries/_/seasontype/1)


“Look at it like this,” Durant explained. “Kobe Bryant brings in a lot of money to Los Angeles, that downtown area. People go to watch the Lakers. Clippers are getting up there, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and those guys are bringing in a lot of money as well. Look at Cleveland, look at Miami when LeBron was there. These guys are worth more than what they are making because of the amount of money they bring to that area. That’s a conversation you can always have, but until it’s changed you never know what will happen to it.”


Kevin Durant is right, top NBA players are underpaid with max salaries | ProBasketballTalk (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/07/kevin-durant-is-right-top-nba-players-are-underpaid-with-max-salaries/)

NBA is a true microcosm of society; many employees believe they are worth more than what they are paid. There are a lot of people who would be satisfied with 10% of what these professional athletes make.

I've never been to a Thunder game. Too expensive for my budget. Players are going to price themselves out of a job. A new game of kings I guess.

I've never been to a Thunder game. Too expensive for my budget. Players are going to price themselves out of a job. A new game of kings I guess.

Seriously? My season ticket costs $12 per game. That's amazing value for a world class product. You can get $20 tickets to games on the street before a game as long as you're not trying to see a top one.

Is Louisville Ready?

Attendance for the NBA preseason game between Miami-New Orleans drew 20,074. The exclusive use by the University of Louisville for the KFC Yum Center will be a tall hurdle for the NBA.

And if expansion’s out, Lousiville goes on a list that includes Seattle first and foremost, Kansas City, San Jose, Anaheim, Vancouver, another Chicago franchise, and a few other places. They probably land somewhere between the California markets and right around, if not above, Kansas City. The big problem? Their arena. The city wants to use the KFC Yum! Center (which I will never, ever call it if they do get a team) which is owned by the University.

Louisville is totally serious about getting an NBA team | ProBasketballTalk (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/16/louisville-is-totally-serious-about-getting-an-nba-team/)

But will there ever be more to the NBA in Louisville than exhibitions?

What's next for the NBA in Louisville? (http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/2014/10/08/next-nba-louisville/16909917/)

Yum Center? It could have been worst, KFC originally wanted the naming-rights to call the arena the KFC Bucket:

If Heisley moves his team to Louisville, Tricon would pay millions in naming rights to an arena to be called the KFC Bucket.http://www.okctalk.com/images/smilies/dizzy.gif

Two Cities Propose New Arenas for Grizzlies - Los Angeles Times (http://articles.latimes.com/2001/mar/16/sports/sp-38449)

Is expansion more likely than retraction? I'm not sure...

Is expansion more likely than retraction? I'm not sure...

Retraction would be very unpopular. You would reduce your market footprint. In order to have a real impact; NBA would have to retract four or five franchises; then a disposal draft or redistribution of the players on the franchises retracted.

We are very fortunate to have two superstars on the Thunder roster along with some potentially potent rising stars in Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson and Steven Adams.

There are more than enough teams in the NBA. Retraction would not be a popular move.

Free Agency 2011: The Impact a Retraction Would Have on the NBA This Year | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/741656-nba-free-agency-2011-the-impact-a-retraction-would-have-on-the-nba-this-year)

The NBA will probably not see an expansion until 2025.

10. San Antonio Spurs
11. Oklahoma City Thunder
12. Portland Trail Blazers

The Business Of Basketball List - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/nba-valuations/list/)

Is expansion more likely than retraction? I'm not sure...

Retraction is not going to happen, expansion is just really unlikely.