The NBA is Back in the Emerald City: A SuperSonics Expansion Association (NBA 2K23)

[kibaxx7]

Seeing Dame being traded ALONG WITH FOUR!!! picks is just painful, but I really like the idea of Jimmy in Portland.

[HarkTheSound]

Quote: Originally Posted by kibaxx7

Seeing Dame being traded ALONG WITH FOUR!!! picks is just painful, but I really like the idea of Jimmy in Portland.

Yeah for the current day NBA landscape that seems insane but in this file, which is closing in on 2026, I think it makes sense. Dame has dropped to an 85 overall (had a big drop this offseason after the progression stage) and averaged 21 and 7 last year on declining shooting splits. He's set to make more than $55 million this year with a player option for $63 million next year, which is insane for a rapidly declining player.

Plus I think Butler, who is on an expiring deal and opens a lot of flexibility for Portland next offseason, will prove to be much more valuable on this roster paired with Simons and Sharpe.

[HarkTheSound]

Sonics Preseason Concludes, Roster Construction Complete

It’s been 17 years since an NBA team suited up in Seattle, but the return of the SuperSonics is right around the corner. Seattle has completed its preseason and is set to begin their inaugural season under new owner Jeff Bezos and rookie head coach Shawn Graves.

Here is a look at the finalized roster with the first game of the season one week away.

The Starting Lineup

Jones, the No. 5 overall pick out of Kentucky, will be handed the keys on Day 1. He immediately inherits the role as the starting point guard and will have ample opportunity to prove himself as Seattle’s lead guard of the future.

Jones is only 19, so expect a steep learning curve here for the young rookie, but Sonics’ brass is hopeful about his future. He’s not expected to be an elite scorer in the league, but he is projected to succeed a true old-school point guard who will lead with his playmaking and leadership skills

2024-2025 college stats (Kentucky Wildcats): 13.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.5 spg



Seattle signed Thompson late in free agency to man the starting 2-spot. Thompson has been a bit of a journeyman since the Golden State Warriors traded him after the 2023 season.

He helped contribute to an Eastern Conference Finals run with the Indiana Pacers in 2024, then became a free agent. Thompson wanted to return to a warm weather, big market, so he signed with the Miami Heat. He was then traded at the trade deadline to the Boston Celtics after the Heat’s season fell apart, but he couldn’t help revive Boston’s failed season either.

Thompson did not generate much interest in free agency, so Seattle came to him with the opportunity to start at the 2-guard and to make him one of the faces of the Sonics’ revival. The pitch worked, and with his legacy already sealed at age 35, Thompson will serve as a leader and steady presence for a building Seattle franchise. Thompson signed a one-year deal worth $11.2 million, and there have been murmurs that he would like to play one or two more seasons before retiring as one of the game’s most prolific shooters.

2024-2025 stats (Miami Heat and Boston Celtics): 14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 26.6 mpg with 43/42/93 shooting splits



After playing a limited role with the Oklahoma City Thunder for three seasons, the No. 1 overall pick in this offseason’s expansion draft will get the chance to finally have a bigger role as a starting wing for Seattle. He’ll play the “3” and the “4” for Seattle, but at only 185 pounds despite being 6-foot-9, it will be interesting to see if Dieng can hold up against power and strength from the league’s best forwards.

Dieng has averaged 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per 36 minutes in his career, so we’ll all finally get the chance to see how he’ll do now that he’s not stuck behind so many of the talented guards and wings on OKC.

2024-2025 stats (Oklahoma City Thunder): 6.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 15.0 mpg with 42/36/80 shooting splits



Facing a lack of capable bodies at the “4” spot after the expansion and college drafts, Seattle opted to sign Robinson-Earl in free agency to a three-year deal worth almost $35 million. It may have been a bit of an overpay, but Seattle thinks there is more ability for the Villanova product to tap into after being a key reserve on Oklahoma City the past four seasons.

Seattle is hoping their forward tandem can break out in starting roles now that they’re no longer in OKC, and Robinson-Earl has a lot of the skills NBA evaluators are looking for in forwards at the “4.”

2024-2025 stats (Oklahoma City Thunder): 8.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 23.7 mpg with 47/38/81 shooting splits



After two productive seasons in Chicago, Seattle signed Reid in free agency to a two-year deal with a player option for $23.7 million this offseason.

Reid is a decent NBA starting center who isn’t always the most efficient but does have solid production. He averaged 15.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes last year, but will need to improve his outside shooting. After averaging between 33-35% from beyond the arc in his career, that shooting percentage plummeted to 27% last year and his overall field-goal percentage suffered as a result.

2024-2025 season stats (Chicago Bulls): 11.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 26.9 mpg with 44/27/76 shooting splits

The Bench

A top pick in the expansion draft, the former No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 draft will have a sixth-man role with Seattle as the first guard off the bench. He saw a grand total of one minute on the floor in his rookie season, but put up some production with more playing time last year. Seattle liked what they saw and hope the former Indiana guard can unveil more of his skillset with a much larger role.

2024-2025 stats (San Antonio Spurs): 5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 13.5 mpg with 46.0/32/64 shooting splits



Another expansion draft pick, Poeltl will split time with Reid at the center spot. He’s bounced time between San Antonio and Toronto in his career thus far and should serve as a connective piece for a team that doesn’t have a lot of quality bigs.

2024-2025 stats (Toronto Raptors): 8.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 bpg, 23.0 mpg with 51/0/47 shooting splits



Seattle also picked up Beasley in the expansion draft and he’ll be a key backup wing. This will be his fifth different team in five years, but he, along with Thompson, were key contributors in helping Indiana reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024. His production fell off last year with a deep Orlando team, but there’s still plenty left in the tank here as Beasley hit the 50/40/90 shooting split trifecta last year.

2024-2025 stats (Orlando Magic): 7.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 17 mpg with 50/49/90 shooting splits



Dort was a solid wing option for several years with Oklahoma City before leaving for Philadelphia in free agency last season. His shooting numbers saw an uptick with the 76ers, but his minutes per game dipped and Philadelphia opted to not protect him during the expansion draft. Dort will see plenty of time at the “3” and even the “4” for Seattle. He is the team's best defender and will guard a lot of the top wings in the league.

2024-2025 stats (Philadelphia 76ers): 9.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 20.2 mpg with 45/34/85 shooting splits



Seattle took a flyer and signed the tall and lanky Durmanenko this offseason to a one-year deal. The Iowa State product is a bit of a mystery given he has never played in an NBA Game, but he was extremely productive in the G-League last year, averaging 15.4 points and 17 rebounds per game. He is much more comfortable shooting from the outside than finishing around the rim, so it will be interesting to see what kind of role he carves out for a Seattle team seeking capable forwards.

2024-2025 stats (Wolves of the G-League): 15.4 ppg, 17.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.4 bpg, 34.3 mpg with 47/40/56 shooting splits



Boswell was a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and only appeared in six games a season ago with the Brooklyn Nets. A late-round expansion draft pick, he has some real potential, especially on the defensive end of the floor, and could develop into a regular contributor down the line if his shot ever develops.

2024-2025 stats (Brooklyn Nets): 1.7 ppg, 1.5 apg, 4.7 mpg with 57/0/100 shooting splits



Another 2024 second-round pick, Morris has yet to appear in an NBA game and was not protected by the New Orleans Pelicans in the expansion draft. Although he hasn’t seen the floor yet, Sonics scouts think he could be a solid backup point guard in time and it will be interesting to track his development while he grows his game at the end of the bench.

2024-2025 stats (New Orleans Pelicans): N/A



A late first-round pick by the Indiana Pacers in 2024, Hopkins did not appear in a game and was left unprotected in the expansion draft. Seattle took a flyer on the former Providence Friar and perhaps will turn into a depth forward rotation piece in a couple of years.

2024-2025 stats (Indiana Pacers): N/A

[studbucket]

Something interesting about having so many Thunder players in key roles on the brand new Sonics.

[HarkTheSound]

Quote: Originally Posted by studbucket

Something interesting about having so many Thunder players in key roles on the brand new Sonics.

I agree, I honestly didn't even notice that at first. Two of the starters (Dieng and Robinson-Earl) are former OKC guys and Dort on the bench played there for a long time.

Thunder visits to Seattle and vice versa should be a lot of fun given how good their team is now. I expect I won't be able to compete with them for a few years but once I build up this roster hopefully I can turn it into a fun rivalry.

[HarkTheSound]

NBA Opening Day Starting Lineups

Eastern Conference Preview

Philadelphia 76ers

Milwaukee Bucks

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

Boston Celtics

Memphis Grizzlies

Atlanta Hawks

Miami Heat

Charlotte Hornets

New York Knicks

Orlando Magic

Brooklyn Nets

Indiana Pacers

Detroit Pistons

Toronto Raptors

Washington Wizards

[studbucket]

The Central division is wild. The Cavs, Bucks, Pistons and Pacers all have fun looking teams.

[HarkTheSound]

Quote: Originally Posted by studbucket

The Central division is wild. The Cavs, Bucks, Pistons and Pacers all have fun looking teams.

Yeah that's a stacked division for sure. Indiana has made the ECF and the Finals the last two years, Cleveland has arguably the best starting 5 in the league, Milwaukee has two centerpiece talents, and Detroit is also knocking at the doorstep of championship contention with Cade and Co. Should be fun to watch play out.