Sonics Not Leaving, Part 37

A little over a month ago, Buzzer Beater presented Exhibit Z for why the Sonics won't necessarily end up in Oklahoma City: the fact that infamous New Orleans owner George Shinn has his eye on returning his Hornets to the temporary home that embraced them so lovingly in the two seasons prior to this one. Today, the P.I.'s Greg Johns, who bears the distinction of being married to the Weekly's production manager and her NC-17 sense of humor, drives this point home in a preview of tonight's Supes-Hornets throwdown. Writes Johns: "While Oklahoma City has its arms open to the Sonics if owner Clay Bennett gets his relocation wish, that avenue could be filled before the pending KeyArena court case settles should the NBA determine New Orleans isn't working as a viable home for the Hornets. Given that Oklahoma City hosted the Hornets for most of the past two years in the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, it's conceivable New Orleans owner George Shinn could boomerang his way back into the Ford Center, thus blocking a Sonics flight. That scenario is bolstered by the lack of buzz surrounding the Hornets' return to the Big Easy, where a league-low 11,478 attendance average has raised eyebrows for a team off to an otherwise-successful 15-10 start."

In other news, looks like the P.I. could use a new citizen blogger to cover the Sonic beat.