Seattle outlet hopeful for Supersonics return with Boston Celtics ownership selling team
The Boston Celtics ownership group's decision to sell could indirectly lead to the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
Seattle Sports' Brent Stecker made the connection: one Celtics minority owner, private equity partner-turned-Seattle Kraken owner David Bonderman, could be getting a record payday that'd lead to an investment in a franchise in the Emerald City.
"Bonderman has long been considered the leading candidate to be majority owner of an expected expansion Seattle NBA franchise, but he would need to sell his ownership stake in the Celtics first," Stecker prefaced before saying, "The current Celtics ownership group selling would make that key domino fall.
"Not only does Bonderman have NBA ownership experience, but he has local ties that add weight to speculation that he wants to play a part in the league’s return to Seattle."
Boston Celtics reshaping the league after dominant Banner 18 run
The Celtics reshaped the league by being so dominant en route to Banner 18 during the 2024 NBA postseason. Not only did they force several teams to overpay for wings -- the New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges trade price and the four-year max for 34-year-old Paul George from the Philadelphia 76ers spring to mind -- but they were forced to bring back their core at a luxury tax-heavy rate and now ownership is selling to get out from the massive payments.
It's possible that investors from foreign nations can enter the bidding war and laugh at the price of the roster, which is scary for the league. But what's good for the league is that Bonderman could help bring back a historical franchise that the city of Seattle could greatly benefit from. So the Celtics sale is a break-even for the Association.
Of course, the NBA would probably add another market too and it'd have to be in the Eastern Conference to make it an even 32. Unless said team was brought to Las Vegas and a franchise like the Memphis Grizzlies was made an Eastern Conference team.