RealGM

Cactus Jack wrote:

Read on Twitter

Excerpts from that article:

(2022)"at some point, this league invariably will expand, but it's not at this moment that we are discussing it."

A year later, his tone is markedly different.

"...there'll be a very open process at the time already to consider expansion. But that's not yet. That's not yet now."

Conclusion: The writer should re-think his use of the words "markedly different".

Dick, you make a valid point.

When is the TV/media rights deal expected to get done? Expansion is purportedly up next on the NBA agenda.

DoItALL9 wrote:When is the TV/media rights deal expected to get done? Expansion is purportedly up next on the NBA agenda.

If I remember correctly it was supposed to be during the spring of 2024.

Talking about the TV rights deal and expansion.

According to the article on the frontpage Adam Silver is currently finalizing the tv deal and will then concentrate on expansion.

Silver [url=ht

tps://sports.yahoo.com/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-says-las-vegas-definitely-on-our-list-of-expansion-cities-214603684.html]talked about expansion again.[/url]

He talks about Vegas being clearly on their radar.

Though, an important nugget.

Seattle, Nashville, Vancouver, Montreal and Mexico City have all been floated as potential expansion cities. Regarding Mexico City, Silver told NBA.com that even though bringing a team there is "probably not going to happen in the next wave of expansion," Silver reassured that Mexico City is "on our radar."

Looking at that it's between Seattle, Nashville, Vancouver and Montreal which seems like a good bet that Seattle would get the nod and join Las Vegas as one of the two expansion teams.

Seattle & Vegas are the two cities. It's no secret.

What kind of owners do we expect David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke to be for the Supersonics in regards to spending money and going over the salary cap?

Will they lead as owners willing to spend on salaries and franchise amenities similar to Balmer (LAC) & Jacob (GSW)

Or

Will they be tighter on the dollar similar to OKC & San Antonio (SAS)?



How are they with the Kraken? I'm not familiar with the salary cap in the NHL. Is it a soft cap, hard cap, or uncapped (pretty sure there is a cap after their yearlong lockout/strike)

Is there any reason to believe they'd be different with their NBA team as opposed to their NHL team?

DoItALL9 wrote:What kind of owners do we expect David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke to be for the Supersonics in regards to spending money and going over the salary cap?

Will they lead as owners willing to spend on salaries and franchise amenities similar to Balmer (LAC) & Jacob (GSW)

Or

Will they be tighter on the dollar similar to OKC & San Antonio (SAS)?



How are they with the Kraken? I'm not familiar with the salary cap in the NHL. Is it a soft cap, hard cap, or uncapped (pretty sure there is a cap after their yearlong lockout/strike)

Is there any reason to believe they'd be different with their NBA team as opposed to their NHL team?

Probably not.

I'm not too familiar with how they run the Kraken. But the NHL has a hard cap in place. So, it's difficult to really judge on that front.

DoItALL9 wrote:What kind of owners do we expect David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke to be for the Supersonics in regards to spending money and going over the salary cap?

Will they lead as owners willing to spend on salaries and franchise amenities similar to Balmer (LAC) & Jacob (GSW)

Or

Will they be tighter on the dollar similar to OKC & San Antonio (SAS)?



How are they with the Kraken? I'm not familiar with the salary cap in the NHL. Is it a soft cap, hard cap, or uncapped (pretty sure there is a cap after their yearlong lockout/strike)

Is there any reason to believe they'd be different with their NBA team as opposed to their NHL team?

Well, like Cactus said the NHL has a hard cap so it's different from the NBA.

Also, the ownership group has stated before that they'll most likely add people given the financial implications of an NBA team(expansion fees might be at least $4 billin, I guess) and Todd Leiweke is not a real owner but the CEO of the Kraken.
The third bigger(finanically) guy on that ownership group(besides minority owners like Marshawn Lynch and Macklemore) is current Amazon CEO Andy Jazzy.

As far as the Kraken goes.
They spent nearly $1.2 billion on the arena, $90M on the prectise facility and around $200M on the arena for the AHL(minor league) team.
They've also spend quite a bit on the analytical side of the front office and have spared no cost on the production, tv side bringing in big(and expensive) names like Jon Forslund and Eddie Olczyk to broadcast the games.

They've also spend close or to the cap even though they've only been around for their third season now and have given their GM the green light to do so.

Though, the real important decisions will start now with a lot of their core becoming UFA's this offseason and them besically having to decide on either just staying the same(and therefore like a middling team) or going for it/retooling.
The latter part might not happen given that the first round of season tickets need to be renewed and they're having trouble with that given the prices they were able to ask for(Seattle has the highest ticket prices of the whole NHL right now) with the hype around a new franchise and fans trying to be part of the first of everything.

Anyways, overall the ownership group has shown their (financial)support of the GM and given him the green light to spend but I doubt they'll most likely need another 1 - 2 "big fish" amongst them to be able to handle both the NHL and NBA.

On another note.

KD would love to be a part of the Sonics in the future.
https://hoopshype.com/2024/02/20/kevin-durant-on-if-he-wants-to-be-a-part-of-the-seattle-supersonics-in-the-future-without-a-doubt/

Det the Threat wrote:

DoItALL9 wrote:What kind of owners do we expect David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke to be for the Supersonics in regards to spending money and going over the salary cap?

Will they lead as owners willing to spend on salaries and franchise amenities similar to Balmer (LAC) & Jacob (GSW)

Or

Will they be tighter on the dollar similar to OKC & San Antonio (SAS)?



How are they with the Kraken? I'm not familiar with the salary cap in the NHL. Is it a soft cap, hard cap, or uncapped (pretty sure there is a cap after their yearlong lockout/strike)

Is there any reason to believe they'd be different with their NBA team as opposed to their NHL team?

Well, like Cactus said the NHL has a hard cap so it's different from the NBA.

Also, the ownership group has stated before that they'll most likely add people given the financial implications of an NBA team(expansion fees might be at least $4 billin, I guess) and Todd Leiweke is not a real owner but the CEO of the Kraken.
The third bigger(finanically) guy on that ownership group(besides minority owners like Marshawn Lynch and Macklemore) is current Amazon CEO Andy Jazzy.

As far as the Kraken goes.
They spent nearly $1.2 billion on the arena, $90M on the prectise facility and around $200M on the arena for the AHL(minor league) team.
They've also spend quite a bit on the analytical side of the front office and have spared no cost on the production, tv side bringing in big(and expensive) names like Jon Forslund and Eddie Olczyk to broadcast the games.

They've also spend close or to the cap even though they've only been around for their third season now and have given their GM the green light to do so.

Though, the real important decisions will start now with a lot of their core becoming UFA's this offseason and them besically having to decide on either just staying the same(and therefore like a middling team) or going for it/retooling.
The latter part might not happen given that the first round of season tickets need to be renewed and they're having trouble with that given the prices they were able to ask for(Seattle has the highest ticket prices of the whole NHL right now) with the hype around a new franchise and fans trying to be part of the first of everything.

Anyways, overall the ownership group has shown their (financial)support of the GM and given him the green light to spend but I doubt they'll most likely need another 1 - 2 "big fish" amongst them to be able to handle both the NHL and NBA.

It'll be interesting to see who those other big fish will be. Would Chris Hansen try to throw his name in the hat. Did he burn bridges too badly with those within the NBA to get approval?

Who are some possible others?

DoItALL9 wrote:t'll be interesting to see who those other big fish will be. Would Chris Hansen try to throw his name in the hat. Did he burn bridges too badly with those within the NBA to get approval?

Who are some possible others?

Given how things went down back then I can't see a way how Hansen would be a minority owner with the group that basically ended his efforts to get that arena done.
The current group did say they wouldn't mind working with him but that was more political talk then anything else.

Who those other guys will be remains to be seen.
Could be someone from one of those big companies with ties/offices in Seattle or maybe even players etc.

Overall I'm waiting for Silver to finalize and announce that tv deal so they can turn their attention to expansion and announce that as well.

Det the Threat wrote:

DoItALL9 wrote:t'll be interesting to see who those other big fish will be. Would Chris Hansen try to throw his name in the hat. Did he burn bridges too badly with those within the NBA to get approval?

Who are some possible others?

Given how things went down back then I can't see a way how Hansen would be a minority owner with the group that basically ended his efforts to get that arena done.
The current group did say they wouldn't mind working with him but that was more political talk then anything else.

Who those other guys will be remains to be seen.
Could be someone from one of those big companies with ties/offices in Seattle or maybe even players etc.

Overall I'm waiting for Silver to finalize and announce that tv deal so they can turn their attention to expansion and announce that as well.

I'm starting to think both won't be announced until the summer after free agency. It's something to help keep the NBA relevant during the offseason, I guess. I wouldn't be surprised if both are basically already finalized but for a couple small things.

Otoh, maybe the TV deal is contingent on playoff numbers and the TV deal truly isn't ready.

Det the Threat wrote:Las Vegas and Seattle ready to bid for expansion teams.

NBA Media Rights Deal Targets Seattle In Expansion?

2027-2028 at the latest, eek

Tod Leiweke interview talking about the Seattle Kraken's decision to broadcast games on King etc.
About the 8:20 minute mark he starts talking about the Sonics coming back and it seems pretty clear that this will happen.


Also, it seems like the NBA is closing in on that new media rights deal.
Hopefully it gets done soon and they get to the next topic, expansion.

Smart move on their part. RSN's are hopefully becoming a thing of the past.