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Allen trade was key to Bennett's plan
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It's difficult to determine which way the death duel between the city of Seattle and the Sonics will turn. Both sides have presented strong cases to U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman, who will hear closing arguments tomorrow.
At stake is whether the Sonics can simply pay off the final two years of their KeyArena lease and move to Oklahoma City. The city contends that it needs the team to stay for both seasons to satisfy the lease.
Previous posts on this issue contain my perspective. It's my feeling that the city should strike a deal with duplicitous owner Clay Bennett to pay off the final two years plus any remaining balance from the 1995 arena renovations and leave. Hanging on only makes us look vindictive and petty. He's not going to sell and he's not going to extend. He's leaving, the sooner the better. His apologist, Commissioner David Stern, is in lockstep with him. The NBA's Board of Governors and owners have all approved the move. Keep the team; leave the name.
For me, the essential point in this case comes down to the trade of Ray Allen a year ago this week. He was sent to Boston for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and the Celts' No. 7 pick, which was Georgetown forward Jeff Green. The Celtics also got the Sonics' 35th pick, which was LSU's Glen Davis.
What that among the worst trades in Seattle sports history? Allen and Davis helped the Celtics win their first NBA title since 1986. West and Szczerbiak were here only slightly longer than a couple tourists, dispatched in a second inconsequenctial trade, to Cleveland on Feb. 21. They helped the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference finals.
The Sonics have a young player in Green, who matured as the season progressed but I never saw a consistent shot and don't believe he'll develop into a dominant player.
Imagine if Allen had stayed, how he could have molded and mentored Kevin Durant. The team would have been better, perhaps a playoff contender, but it certainly would have been more fan friendly. Of course, the Sonics had to make the trade because owner Clay Bennett, no doubt, instructed general manager Sam Presti to streamline the player payroll. His intention, from the start, was to strip payroll as well as all the intangibles: Hope, promise and excitement.
That trade represented an argument for BOTH sides to use.
For the Sonics, it demonstrates that the KeyArena lease is, indeed, lousy. The team got rid of the salaries Allen and Rashard Lewis - for a $9 million trade exemption and a draft pick. Their payroll plummeted to the NBA depths, $60 million compared to top-paying Dallas at $105 million. Their attendance dropped, although a 13,335 average to see a team with the worst record in the franchise's 41 years actually was remarkably high.
Yet even with the stripped-down version, Bennett claims he loses $30 million a year. If you believe him, how is that possible? Is the lease that bad?
On the other hand, the city can argue that the trade clearly shows Bennett's intention to rob this team of viability and competitiveness. It's a team with a three- to five-year plan for the playoffs and those suffering rebuilding years are to be in Seattle, not Oklahoma City. After tomorrow's NBA draft, when this team is delivered to OKC - next season or in 2010 - it should have the strong foundation. It's no accident that the Sonics have a league-high six picks in the draft.
When Bennett talks about building, he's not thinking KeyArena. He's thinking building through the draft so all his OKC folks can enjoy those intangibles: Hope, promise and excitement.
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