OAKLAND, Calif. — With the Oklahoma City Thunder now part of the NBA lineup, the Golden State Warriors' mascot might be a goner. Thunder is his name.

Thunder has been part of this franchise for some 12 years and his likeness is featured on the team's primary logo, though the team doesn't use that image much anymore.

Warriors team president Robert Rowell is willing to make the switch for the benefit of the other Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics. When the timing's right, that is.

"We're clearly going to do something to accommodate Oklahoma City and not have our mascot named Thunder," Rowell said. "For the sake of not making things confusing, we're going to do something. We just have to figure out a good exit strategy."

He just might have one — leave Thunder in China during the team's upcoming trip to Asia.

"He might get lost in the crowd over in China," Rowell said. "There are 1.3 billion people there."

For about two years Golden State had been considering a rebranding of the club, Rowell said. So this may be the time to go forward with a new mascot after this season. The Warriors don't want to be without one this season.

"The other thing we were thinking is maybe we trade him to Oklahoma City for a mascot to be named later or something like that," Rowell cracked. "I know that Oklahoma City has already mentioned that their new mascot is in the works, so they're not going to have one when the season starts.

"We may trade Thunder's rights while he's in China — though we'd have to go through NBA China to get approval on that. He may not get a ticket back with us, I don't know. We haven't figured it out."

Thunder is rarely seen on merchandise aside from a few children's items, Rowell said. In fact, his name and true identity are kept secret. He is acrobatic, muscular and faceless, with glowing blue skin and shiny eyes, a lightning bolt coming out of his head. He's been leaping off a trampoline during timeouts and jumping into sections of fans to say hello since 1997-98.

"Thunder doesn't comment," Rowell said. "Thunder's an outfit. Thunder doesn't get a vote. He's never been quoted. Thunder is a persona."