Now that the Thunder have all but imploded since losing Durant (goodbye Westbrook), the NBA should seriously consider forcibly relocating the team back to Seattle under new ownership and force them to become Supersonics again. This is the only way today's decision can have any Silver lining for the rest of the league and the good of the game.
Why kick a dog while it's already down. Feel bad for the OKC Fans. They have a supportive fanbase. All there game are always soldout and full. Unlike Toyoto center.
Another team like the Kings or Clippers will relocate to Seattle before thunder. Okc shows they are a viable pro sports city, and a rabid NBA fan base. Kind of a terrible idea
Rabid fan bases in smaller markets eventually wither away once the stars are gone. See SLC and Sacramento. Portland and Orlando in the next tier. TBH, the NBA has too many one sport only towns. Not even mentioning San Antonio.
Portland and slc have stood the test of time. I have never heard orlando being known for ther fan base. Oklahoma supported their terrible team when chris paul was a rookie.
I actually wonder if the Blazers will stay in Portland. Nobody outside of Portland roots for the Blazers, they have no marketability in Washington State. Nobody cares about the Blazers, but Seattle based teams have far more presence in the rest of the PNW, including British Columbia, and has a market of upwards of 12 million viewers. Obvious Paul Allen is a Seattle man through and through, just wonder if one day he decides his team would be worth twice as much in Seattle than in Portland.