How 'Bout We Just Pretend the Last Ten Years of Sonics Basketball Never Happened?

In June of 1996, Shawn Kemp had just outplayed Michael Jordan, and even the most pessimistic Sonics fan agreed that the Supes had been a healthy Nate McMillan away from taking the crown.

The awful aftertaste of the Denver upset was gone. With a 28-year-old Gary Payton and a 27-year-old Shawn Kemp--two sure hall-of-famers--in their primes, and a solid surrounding cast, the Sonics were ready to dominate the NBA for a few years. Our window was finally here.

And then Shaq came to the Lakers.

And then the Sonics gave Jim McIlvaine $27 million.

And then Kemp got pissed because McIlvaine made more than him.

And then Kemp started drinking.

And then the Sonics got Vin Baker.

And then Vin Baker started drinking.

And then Mac-10 retired.

And then the Sonics gave Calvin Booth $30 million.

And then Gary Payton was run out of town.

And then the Sonics hired Nate McMillan, got terrific years from Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Antonio Daniels and a great playoffs from Jerome James, and made a run at the Spurs.

And then they didn't rehire Nate McMillan and ran the team into the ground.

And then Howard Schultz sold the team to a guy who wants to move them.

And they traded Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis left.

Now with nine-year vet Rashard Lewis gone to the Magic, it feels like a new start.

The Sonics have a "the next Michael Jordan" in Kevin Durant, some young fast guys in Delonte West, Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox, and a ton of money to spend when/if Kevin Durant is ready to win a championship.

With the news of Lewis leaving we're not going to rue the horrific past--we're too excited about the future.