Stern to Starbucks CEO Suing the Un-Sonics: Quit, or Get the Checkbook Ready

The lawsuit from Howard Schultz, the Starbucks CEO and former Sonics owner who claims Clay Bennett's group violated an agreement by discussing relocation literally the second they bought the team, quietly rolls on. The first trial movement is expected in 2009, but Schultz is talking already. In a court filing this week, Schultz says NBA commissioner David Stern warned him about the ramifications of continuing the suit.

Schultz said Stern told him "that if I did not join in the settlement ... I should realize that it will become very expensive for me and my partners, and he implied that I should reconsider my position."

Schultz said he then told Stern the settlement did not contain strong enough assurances about the NBA locating a team in Seattle and that Stern told him "the NBA would offer no further assurances in that regard."

This doesn't amount to much pressure from Stern, I think. It will be expensive for Schultz ... and Bennett and the NBA. I'm not sure there's a way in which the NBA can make it more expensive for Schultz, prohibitively expensive. Stern already failed in attempting to get the suit dismissed. The commish could try to run up the costs -- he did request $1.5 million in restitution from Tim Donaghy -- but he's unlikely to pick Schultz clean.

Basically, Stern's just telling Schultz that he will lose. It's unsavory at best and maniacal at worst. But it's far from unexpected. Stern is simply a man possessed when it comes to the Un-Sonics.