When will the Sonics return? The latest update from the NBA

SEATTLE — It's been 15 long years since the NBA left Seattle. Time doesn't exactly heal all wounds. However, it does bring renewed hope.

With the completion of Climate Pledge Arena in 2021, the main stumbling block in the original Seattle Supersonics franchise departure is a thing of the past. Now, Seattle offers a world class venue that's tailor-made for the NBA.

In January, we gave you an update on how Seattle is preparing. Now, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is providing an update. At the pregame show for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, NBA Hall of Famer and TV Analyst Shaquille O'Neal asked Silver about expansion and specifically Seattle.

"With everything going so well, do you, in the near future, expect more expansion teams? You hear Seattle, you hear Las Vegas, is that a possibility?" O'Neal asked.

"It is a possibility," Silver replied.

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"What we've said in the last few years is, number one, we wanted to get our collective bargaining agreement, so we've done that now," Silver continued. "Then we wanted to understand what our new media rights packages are, those negotiations will begin in earnest next spring. Once that's done, we'll turn to expansion."

But some context to Silver’s comments is necessary. Silver cannot come out and endorse cities just yet, but make no mistake, the NBA has already done its due diligence. Silver is highly successful, meticulous and aware of the landscape, even if isn't officially on the table yet. However, Silver has previously mentioned Seattle is at the “top of the list” when it comes to expansion.

The collective bargaining agreement was finalized earlier this year, and the TV/Digital rights deal, as Silver alluded to, could be done in 2024.

Consider this though, if you're about to go to your TV partners and have them bid on a price to air the NBA games, wouldn't you want them to pay you for the games of 32 teams instead of 30? That's a lot more money.

Silver is honest, to be clear, but I'm eager to see how that timeline unfolds in that regard.

Silver added further, saying, "We don't have anything specific in mind right now. I think it makes sense over time, if you're a successful organization and continue to grow, there's no doubt there are a lot of great cities that are interested in having the NBA."

Here's the clip via Twitter from the NBA:

The Supersonics began play in 1967-1968, even ahead of the Seahawks or Mariners (or even the M's predecessor, the Pilots). Their final season was the 2007-2008 campaign with rookie Kevin Durant.

Seattle went to the NBA Finals three times in 1978, 1979 and 1996, winning the '79 NBA title.

In a nutshell, a bitter dispute over a new arena led to the selling of the team in the mid-2000s. The new owner, Clay Bennett, moved the team to Oklahoma City in 2008.

Seattle has longed hope to get their team back, if/when the NBA returns the team will be called the Supersonics, as the city still owns the rights to the name.

Momentum has picked up since the renovation of and opening of Climate Pledge Arena in 2021 - the arena even has a "future NBA locker room" already assigned inside. But Silver putting a more solid timeline on matters is further proof that the wait could be nearing an end for Sonics fans.

We'll be monitoring it, but Seattle has put itself in an outstanding position to pounce when the NBA makes its next move.