Mayor Murray: NBA has no plans to expand to Seattle at this time

It doesn't appear the NBA will be returning to Seattle in the immediate future.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver met this week with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray to discuss a potential return to the city that was once home to the SuperSonics, but reiterated that expanding to the Emerald City isn't something the league is currently considering. 

Murray - who also met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about the prospects of the league bringing a team to Seattle - said he will remain vigilant in trying to return basketball to Seattle, which has been without an NBA team since the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City after the 2007-08 season. 

The mayor's official statement: 

On Monday in New York City, on my way to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I met for the first time with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regarding the status of an NBA team returning to Seattle. While Commissioner Silver said Seattle remains a very attractive city for an NBA franchise with our NBA championship heritage and enthusiastic fan base, the league has no plans to expand at this time. The city will continue to do our part to bring NBA basketball back to Seattle.

While in New York, I also met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about the future of NHL hockey in Seattle. We are very keen on bringing an NHL team here, and the commissioner recognizes the value we would bring as home to a future franchise. We will continue to work toward that shared vision.

The biggest obstacle facing Seattle is finding a suitable arena. Environmental studies on a proposed arena are underway, but not expected to be ready until later in 2015. 

Construction on a new venue cannot begin until an NBA franchise is secured for the city, according to Nick Eaton of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. That decision was made in 2012 through an agreement between the city, King County and investor Chris Hansen.

Hansen, a hedge-fund manager, led a group that reached an agreement to buy the Sacramento Kings in 2013 and relocate the team to Seattle, but the sale was rejected by the NBA's Board of Governors, which is comprised of 30 team owners. 

It was also reported in January that Hansen planned to make a bid on the Atlanta Hawks with the hopes of relocating the team to Seattle. Silver, however, later said he doesn't want the Hawks to relocate or think they will.