Part II: Back with a Boom! Seattle Sonics return to NBA

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Back with a Boom! A Sonic Boom! Seattle SuperSonics return to NBA.



Seattle gets its second attempt at hosting an NBA franchise. Lets hope this time it proves to be more successful in holding onto it. (See Thunder, Oklahoma).
The Milwaukee Bucks are relocating to Seattle for the 2014-15 season. This is part II of the About Bucking Time story. Please feel free to read this story as it covers the entire 2012-13 Milwaukee Bucks season, leading to the relocation of the franchise.

Story Timeline:

Seattle Sonics Roster:

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Back with a Boom! A Sonic Boom! Seattle SuperSonics return to NBA.



Seattle gets its second attempt at hosting an NBA franchise. Lets hope this time it proves to be more successful in holding onto it. (See Thunder, Oklahoma).
After announcing that the Milwaukee Bucks would up sticks and relocate to Seattle, the debate began to rage over what logo and colours the franchise would use. New owner Steve Ballmer announced in a statement that he had secured the purchase of the Bucks franchise. Later in the week he also concluded negotiations with the KeyArena in Seattle.

Everyone knew this day was coming. The NBA is back in Seattle and as expected the SuperSonics name and colors have been brought back. The question was, do they return to the 00's colors, which were worn by the Sonics up until their sale, the mid 90's colors or green, yellow and red or do they go all out and have a new beginning? In the end, Ballmer, a diehard Sonics fan all those years, decided that they would bring back the colors from the 2008 season. Picking up where they left off. “I wanted to have a logo, a uniform, which not only was familiar to the people of Seattle, but gives us something to root for, a chance for redemption, continuing on for this season only in the old colors.” Ballmer chuckles.

A sense of history returning, and hopefully something to live up to for the relocated Bucks players. At first look the roster and the new Sonics have a good young core to build around. The emergence of John Henson and Larry Sanders as one of the best young front-court tandems in the league, is a very good starting point. Players like OJ Mayo and Derrick Williams, Brandon Knight, are all under 25. Add some veteran experience and another year of development, and the Sonics could be chasing a playoff spot in a transitional Western Conference.

The NBA will shortly announce a new divisional realignment structure for next season. With the Bucks franchise originally based in the East, some other franchise will have to move west.


The Sonics will play this season only in a renovated KeyArena

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Reserved for Team Roster

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Transactions

Sonics hire Phil Jackson as GM
Steve Nash Retires

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Reserved for Fixtures

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NBA Approves Realignment for 2014-15 Season

The NBA Board of Governors has approved a realignment plan that will take effect with the start of the 2014-15 season, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced today.
The NBA's newly relocated franchise Seattle (formerly the Milwaukee Bucks) will tip off its inaugural season as part of the Western Conference.

The Northwest division takes a better geographical standpoint, with Seattle and Portland set to renew the I-5 rivalry. They are joined by the Jazz, Nuggets, and Thunder. Leaving the way open for 4 hotly contested matches between the new Sonics and the old Sonics.

The Minnesota Timberwolves swap places with the Bucks and join the Central Division in the Eastern Conference. This also makes more sense from a travelling point of view with the T-Wolves playing their local rivals more often.




The I-5 Rivalry is back. No Durant or Roy this time though.

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Sonics Hire Phil Jackson as GM



The Seattle Sonics have released former GM John Hammond and replaced him with the 'Zen Master' Phil Jackson. Jackson had been linked with the job a few weeks ago, when the Bucks were approved to move to Seattle. This is seen as a solid move, although Jackson has never been a GM before. His 11 championship rings should bring enough experience to get him through the learning curves.

He is expected to have a 3 yr contract, with the ability to work from home in Los Angeles part of the time. The Lakers had not offered him a job despite the franchise being in turmoil now. The Lakers had one of the worst records in the NBA last year, as Mike D'Antoni's eras came to a grinding halt. Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant were extremely dissatisfied and have not yet committed to the Lakers for next year. Steve Nash was traded away to the Bucks as they began full tank mode. They will be hoping for the no 1 draft pick this year.

Jackson has a decent core to work with, 2 promising young post players and a host of other young players like OJ Mayo and Derrick Williams. He will have some decisions to make on players like Ersan Ilyasova. The Sonics are due to have about 10m in cap space this offseason to work with.

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Steve Nash calls it quits


Nash in action for the Bucks last year.

Steve Nash has decided that next season will be one year too far. The 40 year old found the wear and tear too much last season. Although he led the lead in assists per game, Nash's fitness and physique has suffered greatly. He failed to lead the Bucks to a playoff spot, but still put up some decent numbers. Nash wanted to have one last playoff run, but alas it was not to be. Despite having an opportunity to move to Seattle and work with new GM Phil Jackson, Nash choose to hang up his boots. Nash is believed to have some interest in an assistant coaching position and having a role in player development. The new Sonics will be hoping to keep him around in some way, his professionalism was always a great inspiration for the younger players. Nash will forego his remaining 9m in salary, which will greatly help the Sonics this offseason.

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NBA Draft Lottery 2014

1.Phoenix Suns
2. Orlando Magic
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Charlotte Hornets
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Los Angeles Lakers
7. Seattle SuperSonics
8. Sacramento Kings
9. Boston Celtics
10. Washington Wizards
11. Utah Jazz
12. Portland Trailblazers
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. Minnesota Timberwolves
15. New Orleans Pelicans
16. Philadelphia 76ers
17. Detroit Pistons
18. New York Knicks
19. Denver Nuggets
20. Houston Rockets
21. Golden State Warriors
22. Memphis Grizzlies
23. Cleveland Cavaliers
24. Denver Nuggets
25. Indiana Pacers
26. Los Angeles Clippers
27. Chicago Bulls
28. Oklahoma City Thunder
29. Miami Heat
30. Brooklyn Nets


Lady luck smiled on the Phoenix Suns, as they drew the top spot. The Suns are expected to pick the consensus #1 pick Andrew Wiggins.
The LA Lakers were not as lucky, despite having the 2nd worst record, they only managed to get the #6 pick. Expect them to try and make a move to get into the top 3 -5 spots.
The rebirth of the Seattle SuperSonics was given a major boost. They were expected to be picking around the #10 - #11 spots, but managed to jump up to the #7 pick. An unexpected bonus, and could put them into play for a decent prospect.