The Warriors Just Revealed Why Seattle's Sonics Return Has Them Worried
It's officially happening. The NBA's Board of Governors voted Wednesday to authorize formal exploration of expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas, and suddenly the dream of bringing the SuperSonics back to the Emerald City feels real. But not everyone in the league is throwing a parade, and Steve Kerr just told us why.
The Talent Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About
Here's the thing: the NBA has a talent depth issue, and adding two more teams to the 32-team league only makes it worse. Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn't sugarcoat it when we caught up with him last week. "I think there's a lot of talent in the NBA, and I think the hard part is that the very top-end talent is limited, and it has always been limited to 10 or 15 guys who are true difference makers," Kerr said. "That's the only thing. By increasing the teams to 32, that's two more teams that are unlikely to get one of those top 15 guys. But there's enough overall talent to spread across two more teams."
Translation: yeah, Seattle and Vegas will get rosters. But they probably won't get a franchise centerpiece. That's a reality both expansion cities will have to swallow.
Gary Payton II's Homecoming Dream
But not everyone on the Warriors is hesitant. Gary Payton II is absolutely pumped about this. The 33-year-old spent time in Seattle as a kid while his father, Gary Payton, led the SuperSonics to the 1996 NBA Finals. When you grow up watching your dad captain a team in a city, you don't forget that.
"It's a long, long time coming, and they should have never went anywhere, but you know, business is business," Payton II said. "It'll be huge just to see the city get their Sonics back."
Here's the catch: Payton will become a free agent after this season, and he's got his eye on playing for Seattle when the new Sonics debut. That's a storyline worth watching.
When Are the Sonics Actually Coming Back?
If everything stays on track, the new teams would likely start play in 2028. Climate Pledge Arena, where the Sonics used to play and where the Storm call home, is ready to roll right now. The building's already been through a $1.15 billion renovation for the Kraken, so there's no major work needed to get it NBA-ready.
Vegas has the Thomas & Mack Center and the T-Mobile Arena, so both cities check the arena box. Expansion fees are expected to land somewhere between $5 billion and $7 billion per franchise, and that money stays with the owners, not the players.
More votes are coming, but they're basically formalities at this point. Seattle, we're getting our team back. And this time, it feels inevitable.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Las Vegas.
View X conversation →🔮 Trade Seattle Sports on Kalshi
Did you know you can trade on Seattle sports outcomes on Kalshi, the only federally regulated prediction market in the US? Kalshi is available in Washington state. Bet on Seahawks games, Mariners season outcomes, Kraken playoff runs, and more. No sportsbook account needed.
💰 Limited offer: Get a FREE $10 when you sign up!
👉 Sign up at Kalshi.com and use promo code SEATTLEONTAP to claim your free $10.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.