Could The Kraken Actually Own The Sonics? Here's What We Know Right Now
The NBA just made it official: Seattle's back in the expansion conversation. On Wednesday, commissioner Adam Silver announced that the league's board of governors gave the green light for formal ownership talks with Seattle and Las Vegas. If the money and negotiations line up, we could see two brand new expansion franchises as early as the 2028-29 season. Yeah, you read that right. The Sonics could actually come home.
But here's the question everyone in the Emerald City is asking: would the folks running the Kraken be the right stewards for an NBA team? It's a legit debate, and it matters.
The Kraken's Track Record So Far
Tod Leiweke, the president and CEO of the Kraken, and co-owner Samantha Holloway have been steering the ship since the franchise dropped into the NHL in 2021. They've had to build an organization from scratch, hire staff, develop players, and turn skeptics into believers. That's not nothing. The fact that they're involved in the NBA expansion bid tells you they're serious about growing Seattle's sports portfolio. They're literally waving towels at playoff games like any other fan would be.
What Matters Now
The real test is whether the Kraken group can close the deal. Silver's announcement means Seattle and Las Vegas are officially in the hunt. The NBA's existing owners will have to sign off on new franchises, and that means serious discussions about arena deals, market viability, and financial strength are about to happen. This isn't speculation anymore. This is real bidding.
For Kraken ownership, running a hockey franchise and bankrolling an NBA expansion team are two totally different animals. One requires proving you can build a winning culture. The other requires proving you've got the resources and vision to do it all over again in a different sport.
The Timeline Matters
If everything breaks right, the Sonics could be playing in Climate Pledge Arena or wherever by 2028-29. That's less than three years away. That's when we'll really know if Leiweke and company can execute on the biggest sports story Seattle's had since the Kraken themselves arrived five years ago.
This is the moment. Bring on the bids.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.