Sonics' finale has a feeling of "goodbye"
By Percy Allen

Seattle Times staff reporter


The only thing missing were moving vans revving in the parking lot ready to carry the Sonics away after the final buzzer.

Conceivably, they'll return next season for what could be their final year in Seattle, but judging from the multitude of cryptic messages surrounding the game, you might have gotten the impression that when the Sonics walked off the court following Wednesday's 106-75 defeat to Dallas, they were heading out of town for good.

"You know what the crazy thing is? This year was supposed to be a celebration," guard Earl Watson said. "Remember the 40th anniversary and all of that?

"The last game, you want to thank your fans for hanging with you, but this feels more like a goodbye because of everything that's happened."

Several fans wore green-and-gold "Save Our Sonics" T-shirts and carried placards urging owner Clay Bennett to remain patient with state lawmakers who killed the $300 million public financing package on a $500 million multi-purpose facility in Renton that was going to be the Sonics' new home.

During a pep rally outside of KeyArena before the game, Renton Mayor Kathy Keolker encouraged a few hundred supporters to continue the fight for the new arena. She spoke of an 11th-hour miracle before the session ends Sunday, but declined to reveal the reasons for her optimism.

"There's still a possibility we can make this work," she said. "I'm not going to give up. It could very well be [a miracle]. It's coming down that way. There are still people in Olympia who are working on this issue and trying to make this happen.

"That's all I'm going to say right now. I haven't given up, they haven't either and we're all doing our part to try and make this happen."

Many shared her sentiment, but there was also a contingent of fans who fear the worst. They hope that Bennett won't make good on threats to break the final two years of a lease with the city and move the Sonics and Storm to Oklahoma City after the 2007-08 season.

Sonics center Nick Collison, who took the microphone at center court for a pregrame address, hinted the team could move sooner than later. He thanked the fans for their support, but ended a short speech saying: "Hopefully, we'll see you next season."

The gaffe wasn't lost on many in the announced crowd of 16,117 who appeared stunned, or an angry Sonics executive, who stormed down the KeyArena corridor cursing and yelling: "Hopefully? Who in the hell writes this stuff!"

There are so many unknown factors involving the Sonics, who ended their worst season in more than two decades with a five-game losing streak and dropped nine of their last 10 games to finish 31-51.

The arena issue, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.

First and foremost, Bennett, who is in New York attending the NBA Board of Governors meeting, is expected to immediately announce the fates of coach Bob Hill and general manager Rick Sund. Many in the organization believe Hill, who leaves for his home in San Antonio on Saturday, will not be retained, while Sund, who has a year remaining on his contract, could return.

"Expect the unexpected, from players, to coaching, to whatever," Watson said. "What's going to happen with me, I don't know. Nobody in this organization really knows what's going to happen to them except Mr. Bennett."

Include Lenny Wilkens in that exclusive group.

The Sonics legend had been an FSN color analyst before adding the title of vice chairman this season. It's widely believed that he'll have the pick of any job he chooses, from president, to general manager, to coach. What Wilkens decides will determine what happens to Hill and Sund.

Wilkens, who was unavailable Wednesday, has repeatedly said he has no desire to resume a Hall of Fame coaching career that ended in January 2006 after a turbulent year in New York.

Still, rumors continue to swirl about his imminent return to the sideline.

"I talked to Lenny a few times, but we never get into the coaching situation or anything like that because I really don't want to know," forward Chris Wilcox said. "I know this much, this team needs some good news. We haven't had any good news in a long time around here."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com


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