When the Portland Trail Blazers visited Seattle two years ago for a preseason game, the conversation around potential NBA expansion to Seattle was a constant murmur.
Now?
"Everybody talks about it. This is obviously a desired city and market that people love, some great sports, got all the other sports," Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. "It makes the most sense. It's already been very successful, the market has. It makes a lot of sense. Just got to wait on it."
Depending on the source, Friday's Rain City Showcase at Climate Pledge Arena between the Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers fell somewhere between another chance for Seattle to show its interest in the NBA, to the night the league would announce the SuperSonics were set to return.
For the record, there was no such announcement and there isn't one expected in the immediate future. Commissioner Adam Silver quashed some of the hopes of an announcement coming soon following the NBA Board of Governors meeting last month when he said expansion wasn't discussed, but would be addressed at some point in the season.
Despite the slowed timeline, the discussion hasn't stopped about Seattle's return to the league or the push from those trying to shove the expansion effort over the finish line.
"There's no way we can think about the timetable. There are so many different aspects that have to be decided on," former Sonics coach George Karl said sitting at The Edgewater Hotel on Friday afternoon. "All I know is Seattle, the karma, the energy, the spirit, the fan base, the history, the tradition, and it's got the best building in the world. How does the NBA say no to that? Maybe they can, maybe they will. I have no idea. But if you do a list of good and bad, Seattle's list is pretty damn good."
While Karl is right that Seattle seems to have checked all the boxes, the process will only proceed at the pace the NBA wants. And for now, that means fans here settling for preseason games where green and gold was the predominant color.
For those interested, the Clippers won 101-99 thanks to Kai Jones' lob dunk with 2.2 seconds left.
The traditional luminaries of Seattle basketball were in the building: Shawn Kemp, Jamal Crawford, Gary Payton and Detlef Schrempf. On opposite baselines sat former coaches Lenny Wilkens and Karl.
Rashard Lewis walked back into the building for the first time since the arena was remodeled and sat baseline next to former teammate Luke Ridnour with Sam Perkins to his left, while Dale Ellis was at the opposite end. Sonics connections were scattered throughout the building.
Former UW stars Isaiah Thomas, Brandon Roy and Spencer Hawes were there, as was former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll sitting next to Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke.
In the middle of it all was Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who declined interview requests but took the mic before the opening tip. Ballmer lauded the arena, the folks who helped pull together the Clippers' third preseason trip to Seattle and acknowledged Billups being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
And he made sure to get a pop from the crowd in attendance.
"Lastly, Seattle's got the best basketball fans in the world. So make some damn noise," Ballmer yelled.
Unfortunately, the basketball on the court was mostly forgettable despite an exciting finish. Only a handful of starters for either team played and most were done at halftime.
James Harden played 18 minutes and scored 14 points for the Clippers. Former Rainier Beach star Kevin Porter Jr., also with L.A., scored six points in nearly 17 minutes. But former UW star, Eastside Catholic standout and current Blazers wing Matisse Thybulle was just a spectator for this one due to a knee injury.
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