I understand what your saying but I don't see the Bulls rolling over to let another team come compete in their market. Yes Chicago is one of the biggest cities but who would want to come support them. The Bulls have been their too long and mean to much to that City. If another team were to move to Houston and they were in your backyard, I still presume you would be a Rockets fan. The people in Chicago have their team like we already have out team.
Cubs and White Sox seam to share that city pretty well. White Sox actually won a world series against the stros like 6 or 7 years ago. I wouldn't mind having 2 basketball teams to watch here in Houston! I am sure there are plenty of Clippers fans who are Lakers fans and Lakers fans who are Clippers fans.
If you have known anyone from Chicago before or spent time there yourself you will understand the North/South dynamic. The Bulls would easily be considered the Southside franchise, and if you put the new NBA franchise on the north somewhere near Wrigley Field, you would be surprised how well the local fanbase would build allegience. I know that the north folks would still have their love of the Bulls, but I dont think many people would be too upset about getting their own team on the north side of town to root for and be able to travel much easier to go see.
That being said, I would love for Seattle to get an NBA Franchise as early as next year if possible. Its amazing when you walk the streets up there you still see many people wearing Sonics gear, and talking about the good ol days with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. You could throw the Bobcats in that arena and they would sell out every game for the next 5 years.
The North/South Cubs/Sox dynamic is kinda ugly because it's a black/white dynamic as much as it is a north/south thing, so it'd be a shame to see it repeated in basketball. I'd expect it'd take a while to build a fanbase in a city that already has a team, especially when the incumbent team is good, like the Bulls are. But after being in the city for awhile and moving from being 'the intruder' to being 'the other team' all it'd take is on-court success for the newcomer while the incumbent is in a down year. Fans will switch over. Even so, I hope it doesn't happen. And, it's true that an incumbent team might manage to block a newcomer.
In NBA2k12, i always customize my league and switch out the Bobcats for the Sonics and move the Hornets to the east, and the thunder to the SW div.
As much as i hated going up against them in the 90's, The Kemp and Payton teams had swagger that you really liked. Ray Allen gave it a bit as well. Plus, the early 90's jerseys and logo have to be one of my favs of all time. They messed up when they went Christmas colors. The only way i wouldn't want them replacing the Bobcats is if MJ puts some damn $$ in to create a new brand, something like the Charlotte Flight or something with nothing but Jordan brand all over it. Then i would like to see the Sonics come in as an expansion team.
For me the NBA isn't the same without the Sonics, and the Bobcats should probably relocate and move the Hornets or maybe even Memphis (it's on the east side of the MS River) to the east, and have the Sonics be in the NW division. Seattle is a much sexier city to play in than Charlotte, so the franchise should go back to it's winning ways more or less.
Given all the issues between the Maloofs and Sacramento, seems the Kings moving to Seattle would be the simplest solution. The Kings are already in the geographic area. Problem is that the Maloofs seem to have no interest in selling, just crying about how much money they lose.
