So, does this all mean the Seattle SuperSonics are coming back?

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Not necessarily, but the chance did just get a lot better.

With the news Wednesday, March 25 that NBA owners had approved the formal exploration of expansion opportunities in Seattle and Las Vegas, the natural question is whether the SuperSonics, the team that eventually relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 to become the Thunder, would be making a reappearance.

In short: the chance is there for a prospective ownership group to take that step, though it’s not a guarantee. According to language in the contract agreement from the franchise’s move to Oklahoma City, which was obtained by NBC King5 in Seattle, the ownership group for the Thunder became prohibited from using the SuperSonics branding, color scheme, logo or any intellectual property.

According to the contract, should certain conditions be met under the approval of a new team located in Seattle, the Thunder ownership group will transfer intellectual property, including logos, color scheme, branding and even team history and statistics, to the new ownership group in place. In fact, there’s even language in the agreement that banners, retired jerseys and trophies may be transferred to the new team owner in Seattle.

Any prospective ownership group, however, is under no obligation to reestablish the SuperSonics should an expansion franchise be approved in Seattle, and the NBA would leave it up to the prospective ownership group.

It makes logical — if not easy — business sense, though, for new owners to simply reincorporate the SuperSonics back into the NBA. For one, it takes years of trust, marketing outreach, capital investment and performance to build brand loyalty. Compared to a prospective expansion team in Las Vegas, the Sonics already have that.

To that point, it’s not uncommon at NBA games in the Western Conference to occasionally have some fans in attendance with jerseys, flags and gear with the old SuperSonics branding.

And given this rich history — the SuperSonics played 40 seasons in the city and won an NBA Finals in 1979 — it’s a near guarantee that basketball fans will once again embrace the brand in the city, which has been without an NBA outfit since 2008; the Seattle Storm, the city’s WNBA franchise, held its inaugural season in 2000.

All this to say that it would be a missed opportunity, if not a massive blunder, for a new team to not embrace the Sonics brand.

In a brief conversation with USA TODAY Sports following his press conference Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reiterated that any potential decision to reestablish the SuperSonics brand would be up to the prospective owner, though Silver also acknowledged the wide reach and loyalty fans have to the brand.

“I do a great deal of traveling around the country and the world,” Silver said. “And one of the top five, six questions I get, easily, is ‘When are the Sonics coming back?’ ”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Seattle expansion news: Does this mean SuperSonics are back?

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Right-hander Yu Darvish began the season on the Padres' restricted list while he recovers from elbow surgery, which means he won't be getting paid immediately by San Diego.

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Darvish was placed on the restricted list instead of the injured list as the Padres got down to the 26-player active limit Wednesday. The 39-year-old Japanese star won't pitch this season after elbow ligament repair surgery late last year, but he also hasn't retired.

Darvish is owed $43 million for the final three seasons of a $108 million, six-year contract: $15 million in 2026 and $14 million each in 2027 and 2028.

The surprising move by Darvish and the Padres could clear budgetary room for San Diego to pursue another player. The Padres still could use another quality starting pitcher as they prepare to begin the regular season at home against Detroit on Thursday, especially with right-hander Joe Musgrove expected to start on the injured list in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Placing a player on the restricted list allows teams to free up a roster spot while retaining the player's rights. Darvish also won't accrue service time while on the restricted list, but he is already fully vested in MLB's pension plan after reaching 13 years, 146 days in the majors.

Darvish is one of Japan's most successful players in major league history, earning five All-Star selections and 115 victories. He has a career 3.65 ERA while pitching 13 seasons stateside for four teams.

Darvish made only 16 starts in 2024 and 15 starts in 2025 for the Padres. He didn't pitch until July last season due to elbow inflammation, and he was pulled from his start in San Diego's final playoff game in the second inning last October.

Two months after his surgery, Darvish denied a report that he had told the Padres of his intention to retire, saying he hadn't made a decision, but was “leaning towards voiding the contract” while saying there was “still a lot that has to be talked over.”

“Right now I am fully focused on my rehab for my elbow, and if I get to a point where I can throw again, I will start from scratch again to compete,” Darvish wrote on social media. “If once I get to that point I feel I can’t do that, I will announce my retirement.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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