#SuperSonics

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Michael Jordan and Hersey Hawkins 1996 NBA Finals

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Nike SB Dunk Low Seattle Supersonics Sample via donniebsoles

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Bring Back The Sonics! //

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NIKE SB DUNK SUPERSONICS UNBOXING

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Cherry Bomb and Yuurg. I think I'm happy with how their anatomy and designs turned out!

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“Ah, now I don't hardly know her

But I think I could love her

Crimson and clover”

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“Through the Ages”

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3ee

Supersonics

2024

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Shawn Kemp and Dennis Rodman 1996 NBA Finals

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New Jersey Nets Acquire Mikki Moore in Trade with Seattle

On July 27th, 2006, the Seattle SuperSonics traded center Mikki Moore to the New Jersey Nets for a 2009 second round draft pick (Derrick Brown).

The 2005 offseason saw several changes happen for the Seattle SuperSonics. Head coach Nate McMillan departed for the Portland Trail Blazers and veterans Jerome James and Antonio Daniels left in free agency. McMillan was replaced by assistant Bob Weiss.

Finishing with a 52-30 record the previous year, the Sonics had some retooling to do around stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. To shore up the frontcourt, the Sonics signed Mikki Moore to a two-year contract worth about $2.1 million.

The Sonics got off to a slow start under new head coach Bob Weiss. With the team at 13-17, Seattle fired Weiss and replaced him with assistant Bob Hill. The team was ranked last in defensive efficiency and never could turn the season around. Seattle finished the year 35-47. Moore appeared in 47 games (one start) and contributed 3.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG and 0.6 APG in 12.4 MPG.

After the season, Moore exercised his $1.07 million player option for the 2006-07 season. The SuperSonics had three young centers on the roster in Robert Swift, Johan Petro and incoming 2006 lottery pick Mouhamed Saer Sene. There was less of a need for Moore on the roster. So the Sonics offloaded Moore to the New Jersey Nets for a second round pick in 2009.

The Nets however lacked depth at the center, especially after the club found out rookie big man Josh Boone would be out for the foreseeable future with a left shoulder injury.

Moore joined the Nets for a second stint. Previously, he played four games with the Nets during the 2003-04 season. Moore was a backup center and power forward. Starting center Nenad Krstic tore the ACL in his left knee in a game in late December. With Krstic out for the season, Moore's role in New Jersey expanded significantly.

He became a starter in the frontcourt alongside Jason Collins for the rest of the season. Moore put together a career season, producing 9.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.6 SPG and 0.8 BPG in 26.4 MPG. Moore's ability to finish around the rim on feeds from Nets star Jason Kidd and consistent shooting from midrange played a part in him leading the NBA in field goal percentage (60.9%). He was the first undrafted player in NBA history to lead the league in that category.

The Nets began the 2006-07 season with a 5-3 record. However, the team went 6-15 over the next 21 games and was 11-18 after 29 games. New Jersey continued to alternate winning and losing streaks. In late March, New Jersey was in ninth place with a 31-38 record. The team had a strong finish, going 10-3 over the final 13 games to finish 41-41.

New Jersey was the sixth seed in the East and faced division rival, the Toronto Raptors in the first round. Adding to the storyline was former Raptor hero and now Nets villain Vince Carter returning to battle the team he departed from in 2004. Game One was an early afternoon tip-off.

Led by forward Richard Jefferson, the Nets jumped out to a lead in the first quarter. New Jersey led by as much as 15 points late in the third quarter. Toronto made a run in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to one point with 4:10 left after two consecutive field goals from José Calderón. The Nets went on a 7-1 run and held on for a 96-91 win.

The Nets had a chance to take a second consecutive game in Toronto, building a five-point lead after three quarters. Raptors star Chris Bosh came through in the clutch, scoring 11 of his 25 points in the final frame as Toronto outscored New Jersey 31-20 to win 89-83 and even the series.

In New Jersey for the third game, the Raptors got off to a poor start, falling behind by double digits in the game's first five minutes. Dealing with a knee strain, Nets guard Jason Kidd was a mastermind with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 19 assists as New Jersey cruised to a 102-89 victory.

Game Four was even worse for the Raptors. Carter had 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Nets led by as much as 33 points in a 102-81 laugher. Facing a 3-1 deficit, the Raptors played better at home in Game Five. Toronto led by as much as 17 points in the second half but the Nets made a comeback.

Carter knocked down a three with 27.6 seconds left in the game to make the deficit one point. Bosh was fouled and made two free-throws, then Moore had a putback to get the Nets within one again. After Bosh made one of two foul shots, Nets forward Boštjan Nachbar missed a three that would've won the game. Toronto took the game 98-96.

Game Six was also close. In a see-saw affair, the Raptors took a 46-43 lead at halftime. The Nets gained momentum in the third and built a 78-68 edge early in the fourth quarter. But Toronto battled back, going on an 11-2 run over three minutes to get within one point.

The game would be tight from the eight minute mark to the end. With 47.9 seconds left, the Raptors took a 97-96 lead after a corner jumper from Bosh. After Carter missed a jumper, 10 seconds later, Bosh missed a midrange attempt with 16.9 seconds left.

On New Jersey's next possession, Jefferson spun around Bosh and converted around the rim to give New Jersey a 98-97 lead with 8.3 seconds on the clock. Toronto had a chance to win but Calderón's entry pass to Bosh in the post was intercepted by Jefferson and the Nets won the game and the series 4-2. Moore started all six games in the first round, amassing 7.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.7 SPG and 0.8 BPG in 29.8 MPG.

The Nets moved on to the second round where they matched up with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The series opener was a close game guided by defense. James had 21 points and the Cavs made enough defensive plays down the stretch to win 81-77.

The second game in Cleveland was similar. James had 12 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and Cleveland used a decisive 11-5 run during the last three minutes and 20 seconds to take the game 102-92. Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Nets trio of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson had 23 points apiece and the Nets outrebounded Cleveland 43-30 in a 96-85 New Jersey victory.

Game Four saw Cleveland's defense take charge. The Cavs limited the Nets to just four fastbreak points. The game went down to the final seconds. New Jersey was down two after James split a pair of free-throws with 10.3 seconds left. Carter had the ball but was double-teamed by Eric Snow and Larry Hughes, and turned the ball over. James had 30 as Cleveland won 87-85. In the loss, Moore had a career night, pouring in 25 points.

Facing a 3-1 series deficit, the Nets took early control in Game Five. New Jersey held a nine-point edge at halftime and went up by as much as 22 points in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was a struggle for both teams offensively. New Jersey scored just six points in the fourth. The Cavs weren't much better, dropping in 13. Both teams shot a combined 4-32 in the final frame with 12 turnovers. Still, New Jersey held on for an 83-72 win.

In Game Six, James scored 14 points in the first quarter as Cleveland built an early 32-15 advantage. The Nets made a run in the third quarter cutting the deficit to one point on a Kidd layup with 52.9 seconds left in the quarter.

Cleveland outscored the Nets 27-12 to win the game 88-72 and take the series in six. Moore was effective in the second round, scoring double figures in all six games. The big man produced 14.8 PPG on 60% shooting from the field, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 APG and 1.0 SPG in 36.7 MPG. He also had a penchant for kerfuffles with Cavs players throughout the series.

Moore became a free agent in the 2007 offseason and his career-best performance in the regular season and solid playoff run for the Nets made him an attractive option for teams to pursue on the market.

New Jersey offered Moore a three-year, $11 million contract with a deadline. As Moore pursued other options the deadline passed and the Nets withdrew the offer. Moore eventually signed a three-year, $17.4 million deal with the Sacramento Kings. The final year of the contract was partially guaranteed for $2 million.

By 2008, the Sonics had relocated to Oklahoma City and renamed themselves the Thunder. The 2009 second round pick the Nets sent to the franchise was traded in August of 2008 to the Charlotte Bobcats for the draft rights of guard Kyle Weaver. The Bobcats later selected Xavier small forward Derrick Brown with the pick which was in the 40th spot of the draft.

New Jersey Nets president of basketball operations Rod Thorn on Mikki Moore (via Nets.com):

"We are pleased to add Mikki to our roster. He is a veteran presence who will add depth to our frontcourt rotation."

Nets general manager Ed Stefanski on acquiring Moore (via New York Post):

"We really felt it was necessary that we got a veteran big. We got a guy who can run the floor, he's athletic, he can make an open shot, has good hands and he's a good team defender. We felt we had to add to the depth, especially with Boone getting injured."

Sonics general manager Rick Sund on the trade (via Sonics.com):

"Mikki was always a true professional and we would like to thank him for all of his contributions on and off of the court. We are pleased with the current depth of our roster in the post position and look forward to seeing what our three young centers bring to the court this season."

On Moore (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer):

"Mikki did some good things for us. This just clears up some space in the middle and allows Mikki to go where he can get playing time."

Image via Image of Sport

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Shawn Kemp in SLAM Magazine December 1996 issue

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I put way too much effort into this ( based on this meme, it wouldn’t leave me alone until it was drawn — I am freee )