You want the Hornets to remain in Oklahoma City, but you also want local ownership.
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Could happen.
There will be no franchise swap between the Hornets and the Professional Basketball Club, LLC, an ownership group based out of Oklahoma City, which on Tuesday officially purchased the NBA Seattle SuperSonics and WNBA Storm.
Swap deals simply aren't done under commissioner David Stern's watch.
But it is possible to have the Hornets remain in Oklahoma City with local ownership.
Let's connect the dots:
• As Stern promised, the Hornets return to New Orleans next season.
• The Sonics' new ownership group, chaired by Clay Bennett of Dorchester Capital, fails to gain approval for a new arena in the greater Seattle area within the self-imposed deadline that ends Oct. 31, 2007.
• The Hornets struggle to draw fans and corporate sponsorships next season in New Orleans. Hornets owner George Shinn loses millions.
• With no arena pending in Seattle, Bennett shops for a new home and offers to buy the Hornets from Shinn.
• In dire financial straits and with no relief in sight, Shinn accepts Bennett's offer.
• Bennett and Co., which bought the Sonics for $350 million, offer to sell the Sonics to potential buyers who previously attempted to purchase the franchise earlier this year — people such as Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who offered $425 million to move the Sonics to San Jose, Calif.
(Bennett also could re-sell the Sonics even if an arena deal is approved in greater Seattle, making the asking price considerably higher.)
• With or without a new arena, Bennett sells the Sonics for a tidy profit.
• PBC purchases the Hornets and returns the franchise permanently to Oklahoma City.
• The Ford Center doesn't have an NBA tenant next season. During that time, the facility undergoes roughly $50 million in renovations and the Hornets' new headquarters is constructed.
Will this happen? Not likely. But it certainly could.
In this Shinn-Bennett tennis match, it has clearly been advantage Bennett since July 18, when the Sonics deal was first announced.
Even if Shinn doesn't sell his Hornets, Bennett could still relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City and block Shinn from a place that potentially could make him financially solvent.
With Bennett calling the shots, having a locally owned NBA team in Oklahoma City is a distinct possibility, either with the Sonics relocating or the Hornets staying put.
What are the chances?The Oklahoman's John Rohde handicaps the likelihood of various scenarios for the Hornets, Sonics and OKC:
• Hornets remain in OKC for 2007-08 season: 25 percent
• OKC has its own NBA franchise in the future: 90 percent
• Sonics relocate to OKC: 60 percent
• The Hornets return for good after 2007-08 season: 30 percent
• No NBA franchise in OKC after this season — Sonics remain in Seattle; Hornets are elsewhere: 10 percent
• Bennett's group sells Sonics and purchases Hornets: 20 percent
While George Shinn’s Hornets plan to go back to New Orleans after this season, there is a way they could stay in Oklahoma City with new, local owners. By NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Rohde’s NBA picks
Predictions for the upcoming NBA season:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division: 1. New Jersey; 2. Toronto; 3. Philadelphia; 4. Boston; 5. New York. Southeast Division: 1. Miami; 2. Orlando; 3. Washington; 4. Charlotte; 5. Atlanta.
• Central Division: 1. Chicago; 2. Detroit; 3. Cleveland; 4. Indiana; 5. Milwaukee.
• First round: Miami over Indiana; New Jersey over Washington; Chicago over Orlando; Detroit over Cleveland; Second round: Miami over Detroit; New Jersey over Chicago
• Conference finals: Miami over New Jersey
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division: 1. San Antonio; 2. Dallas; 3. Houston; 4. Hornets; 5. Memphis.
Northwest Division: 1. Denver; 2. Utah; 3. Seattle; 4. Minnesota; 5. Portland.
Pacific Division: 1. Phoenix; 2. Sacramento; 3. LA Clippers; 4. LA Lakers; 5. Golden State.
• First round: Phoenix over Hornets; San Antonio over LA Clippers; Dallas over Sacramento; Houston over Denver; Second round: Phoenix over Houston; San Antonio over Dallas
• Conference finals: San Antonio over Phoenix
• NBA finals: San Antonio over Miami
Most Valuable Player:
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Rookie of the year: Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers
Defensive player of the year: Ben Wallace, Bulls
Coach of the year: Scott Skiles, Bulls
Sixth man: Bonzi Wells, Rockets
Most Improved Player:
Dwight Howard, Magic
Comeback Player: Amare Stoudemire, Suns
Executive of the year: Jeff Bower, Hornets
All-NBA first team
G — Steve Nash, Suns G — Dwyane Wade, Heat F — LeBron James, Cavaliers F — Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks C — Tim Duncan, Spurs
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