Hurricane Katrina was a tragedy. There is no other way to describe it. Families were forced to leave their homes, state and federal response was slow, and many Americans lost their lives. Casualties included not only American lives, but also the architectural and economical well-being of the Gulf Coast.

However there was one more casualty that has gone under the radar. And although it is much less important than American lives and the Gulf Coast economy and is a victim in a much more indirect way, it is still a victim nonetheless.

This victim is the NBA in Seattle. The Seattle Supersonics. And for those of you who are scratching your head right now and think I’m some ignorant fool, please allow me to explain myself.

Among the many families and groups relocated from the Gulf Coast area was the NBA franchise the New Orleans Hornets. The New Orleans Arena that the Hornets called home was by no means ready to host an NBA franchise in the months following the disaster. Nor was the city as a whole. The team was already struggling, but the drafting of future All-Star Chris Paul provided hope for the future.

Since the team couldn’t remain in New Orleans, the closest viable option was Oklahoma City. OKC made renovations to their for the most part NBA ready arena, and hosted the team until New Orleans had recovered. Since their were no other professional teams in the city, the games of the then New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets had very high attendance. Often, they were sold out.

Attendance had been sub-par in New Orleans, but the excited Oklahomans provided the team with a steady fan base. And although the team was never that great, the support the city gave the team resided with the NBA’s executives for years to come. (I can still remember a picture of perhaps the biggest redneck in the world wearing a “NBA loves OKC” shirt when the Hornets were returning to New Orleans.)

Unfortunately, this fan was right. The NBA did love Oklahoma City. And all the city needed to get a team of their own was a viable arena, which they already had, a strong fan base, which they already had, and an owner who has the support of David Stern.

This last part was soon to arrive.

It is true that the Gulf Coast disaster did not force Howard Schultz to poorly manage the franchise or sell it to a sleaze ball Oklahoman that by now everyone can agree bought the team with certain intentions to move.

And although Stern was on the proverbial nuts of Bennett throughout the process, there is no way he would’ve allowed a move to a city that had had no experience hosting a franchise. The Hornets gave Oklahoma City a test, and the city passed with flying colors.

The NBA ignored the fact that a team was being stolen from a top NBA market, and focused on the fact that the spirited Oklahomans deserved a franchise.

Bennett used Oklahoma City’s support of the Hornets in his effort to force Seattle to build a new arena. This stuck with NBA executives and Stern, even though in the Key Arena lease trial he argued the exact polar opposite.

And if it wasn’t for the Hornets’ temporary relocation, Bennett’s plea for a team in Oklahoma City would’ve done nothing but make him seem like a homer, as he is an Oklahoman himself.

Fast-forwarding to today: The Hornets are back in New Orleans and are coming off of a strong playoff run in 2008. The Sonics are now the Thunder. “Squatch” is now “Rumble.” Oklahoma City has their team, and they can thank the opportunity given to them by the Gulf Coast Disaster as the reason.

New Orleans is still recovering, and the financial crisis has not helped. There are talks that the city will soon only be able to afford one franchise: The NFL’s Saints. The Hornets once again may have to find a new home, and maybe this time Louisiana’s economy will help Seattle.