Westphal: Sonics to need stay in Seattle

Before joining the Mavericks this season, the last NBA coaching job for assistant Paul Westphal was right here in Seattle. Westphal coached the Sonics to a 25-25 record during the lockout-shortened season of 1998-99 before leading the franchise to the playoffs the following season with a 45-37 mark.

The future of the Sonics appears bleak in Seattle. The push to build a new arena hasn’t panned out, leaving the real possibility of relocation. Oklahoma City, owner Clay Bennett’s hometown, is at the top of the list.

Westphal shakes his head at the thought.

“It would be a complete shame if Seattle didn’t have a team, some way, somehow,” he said after shootaround. “I know that there’s politics and money involved, and there’s more than meets the eye in anybody’s position. These are rational people trying to work it out, but if they end up with no team here that’s just inconceivable.

“This is a great city and they’ve always supported the team. Somehow when the smoke clears, they need to have a team here. It just wouldn’t seem right.”

The Sonics have 40 years of history and won an NBA title back in the 1970s.

“This is an NBA city,” Westphal added. “Somehow, some way, there needs to be a team here. Historically, there has always been a way to get something done where it needs to get done. It’s happened throughout the league.

“Every city has its own story. Dallas had its issues getting its place built. There’s always an issue, but it always gets done. Hopefully, that will happen here.”

Avery Johnson began living his NBA dream as a free-agent hopeful with Seattle.

“For somebody who started their career off here I would hate to imagine the city without a team,” he said. “I don’t know all of the economics of what’s involved in votes for an arena, but it would be pretty disappointing for me, knowing I started here in 1988 and if they hadn’t of had a team here, who knows where I would have been.”