Seattle Supersonics: Timeline of Events II

From 1993 — to 1998 — the Seattle Supersonics averaged 60 wins per season.  But from 1998 to the present day, the Sonics averaged just 37 wins per year.

According to Forbes.com, the Sonics were valued at $269 million dollars for the 2006-2007 season.  Only the Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trailblazers were valued less.

Here is a season-by-season cross-reference of the Sonics regular season win totals, key transactions, attendance figures, and their year-by-year valuation as estimated by Forbes.com:

1997-1998:

Regular season record: 61-21

Estimated value: $169 million

Owner: Barry Ackerly
President and General Manager:  Wally Walker

Draft: Bobby Jackson (23), Eddie Elisma (40), Mark Blount (54)

Other:

• Traded Shawn Kemp for Vin Baker
• Nate McMillan retires

1998-1999

Regular season record: 25-25

Estimated value $183 million

Owner: Barry Ackerly
President and General Manager:  Wally Walker

Draft: Vladimir Stepania (27), Rashard Lewis (32), Jelani McCoy (33)

Other:

• Hire Paul Westphal as Head Coach

1999-2000

Regular season record:  45-37

Estimated value: $187 million

Owner: Barry Ackerly
President and General Manager:  Wally Walker

Draft: Corey Maggette (13)

Maggette was included in a trade of Billy Owens, Dale Ellis, Don MacLean and the rights to Maggette to the Orlando Magic for Horace Grant and two future 2nd round selection

2000-2001

Regular season record:  44-38

Estimated value $200 million

Owner: Barry Ackerly
President and General Manager:  Wally Walker

Draft: Desmond Mason (17), Olumide Oyedeji (42)

Other:

• Hire Nate McMillan as Head Coach

2001-2002

Regular season record:  45-37

Estimated value: $207 million

Owner:  Howard Schultz
President:  Wally Walker
General Manager: Rick Sund

Draft: Vladimir Radmanovic (12), Earl Watson (39), Bobby Simmons (41)

Other:

• Howard Schultz buys the team
• Walker names Rick Sund General Manager

2002-2003

Regular season record:  40-42

Estimated value: $196 million

Attendance record:  20th

Owner:  Howard Schultz
President:  Wally Walker
General Manager: Rick Sund

Draft: Peter Fehse (48)

Other:

• Traded Gary Payton and Desmond Mason to the Milwaukee Bucks for guards Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, and Ronald Murray

• Re-signed Rashard Lewis to a seven-year contract

2003-2004

Regular season record:  37-45

Estimated value: $205 million

Attendance record: 23rd

Owner:  Howard Schultz
President:  Wally Walker
General Manager: Rick Sund

Draft: Nick Collison (12), Luke Ridnour (14), Willie Green (41)

Other:

• Re-signed Reggie Evans
• Waive Joe Forte

2004-2005

Regular season record:  52-30

Estimated value: $234 million

Attendance record: 21st

Owner:  Howard Schultz
President:  Wally Walker
General Manager: Rick Sund

Draft: Robert Swift (12), Andre Emmett (35), David Young (41)

2005-2006

Regular season record:  35-47

Estimated value: $268 million

Attendance record: 23rd

Owner:  Howard Schultz
President:  Wally Walker
General Manager: Rick Sund

Draft: Johan Petro (25), Mickael Gelebale (48), Lawrence Roberts (55)

Other:

• Named Bob Weiss coach
• Traded Reggie Evans to the Denver Nuggets and Center Vitaly Potapenko to the Sacramento Kings for guard Earl Watson, forward Byron Russell, a 2008 second-round pick and cash from the Denver Nuggets
• Traded Ronald Murray to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Mike Wilks
• Wally Walker resigns

2006-2007

Regular season record:  31-51

Estimated value: $269 million

Attendance record:  25th

Owner:  Clay Bennett
General Manager: Rick Sund

Draft: Saer Sene (10), Denham Brown (40), Yotam Halperin (53)

Other:

• Clay Bennett buys the team
• Signed Nick Collison and Luke Ridnour to contract extensions

2007-2008

Regular season record:  20-62

Estimated value: N/A

Attendance record:  28th

Owner:  Clay Bennett
President:  Lenny Wilkens
General Manager: Sam Presti

Draft: Kevin Durant (2), Carl Landry (31), Glen Davis (35)

Davis was traded with Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics for forward Wally Szczerbiak, guard Delonte West and the No. 5 pick in the draft. With the fifth pick, the Supersonics selected forward Jeff Green.

Other:

• Fired coach Bob Hill and general manager Rick Sund
• Named Lenny Wilkens Vice Chairman of Professional Basketball Club
• Named Sam Presti General Manager
• Named Lenny Wilkens President of Basketball Operations
• Lenny Wilkens resigns
• Signed Rashard Lewis and traded him to the Orlando Magic for a conditional second-round pick and cash
• Traded a future conditional second-round pick and cash to the Phoenix Suns for forward Kurt Thomas and a first-round pick in 2008 and 2010
• Traded Kurt Thomas to the San Antonio Spurs for guard Brent Barry, center Francisco Elson, and a 2009 first-round pick
• Traded Wally Szcerbiak and Delonte West to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forwards Donyell Marshall, Ira Newble, and forward Adrain Griffin
• Waived guard Brent Barry

(Hat tip: Matt from Hardwood Paroxysm for directing me towards the attendance figures at ESPN)