NBA FanHouse

Meet the New Challenge to Seattle Arena Plans

Tom Ziller — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:02:00 EST

Hint: it's the same as the old challenge to Seattle arena plans! Niki Sullivan of the Tacoma News Tribune reports on early sentiments out of the Washington State Legislature regarding the only hope to get the funds necessary to renovate Seattle's KeyArena in hopes of being ready to receive the next relocating NBA franchise.

House Speaker Frank Chopp, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Margarita Prentice were all mum Thursday about the odds of agreeing on an arena renovation deal next year.

"I'm not saying we won't act, but I think we need to be deliberative," said Sen. Ed Murray, a Seattle Democrat who is on the task force created by the Legislature to assess King County taxes, some of which are being used to pay off debt on Safeco Field, Qwest Field and the old Kingdome.

While Clay Bennett proved himself to be a lying snake, the Legislature had obvious culpability in its repeated rejections of any former branch-offering from old owner Howard Schultz, commish David Stern, and Bennett. Even if the old arena plans (which often included $500-million new buildings in the 'burbs) were bad, the Leg didn't have to be so hostile to the NBA. Stern often cites the Legislature's rhetoric and grandstanding in his assertions Bennett's obligated to leave Seattle.

The day after your city loses its longest-standing professional sports franchise, you should probably show at least a modicum of reconciliation if you have any hopes of getting the NBA back. It almost seems like (shock) these politicians don't want a team here ... which is really unfortunate for the fans, considering the new renovation plan seems to call for public funding (a tax on hotel stays -- not exactly pillaging the working-class of Washington) makes up only 25% of the total funding needed. The Legislature is either overly cautious with respects to anti-tax forces, or seriously uncommitted to getting the NBA back.

Meet the New Challenge to Seattle Arena Plans originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Un-Sonics Employees Can Expect a Pay Decrease If They Move to OKC

Tom Ziller — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

There's a potential for a real organizational shake-up as the Un-Sonics move to Oklahoma City. It seems Clay Bennett fully understands if some employees don't want to give up the community they've built their career in, and the franchise has offered bonuses for sticking with the team that past two seasons regardless of whether the employees move to OKC, according to Percy Allen of the Seattle Times.

But if you do go with Bennett to OKC, your next pay stub might include an unwelcome surprise.

Anyone who leaves can negotiate a relocation package; however, employees were told to expect a decrease in salary because the cost of living is lower in Oklahoma City.

"The cost of living is lower in Oklahoma City" is quite an understatement. As an example: according to HousingTracker, the median home price in OKC is $159,900. In Seattle, it's $425,000. Chris Wilcox can buy that dude ranch he's always wanted! Yeah!

While Bennett can negotiate his middle-managers' salaries down, he'll have no such luck with his own players. It'll be interesting to see, though, if in the free agent market "low cost-of-living!" becomes the Un-Sonics' equivalent of Orlando's "no state income tax!" and New York's "we have stuff to do after 8 p.m.!"

Un-Sonics Employees Can Expect a Pay Decrease If They Move to OKC originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Roundtable: How Much Blame Does Seattle Carry?

Tom Ziller — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

We didn't set out to have a Roundtable discussion on the Sonics settlement. Things just sort of ... unfolded in an email thread. As such, it's a bit less formal in style than usual. This is the (edited) result.

Brett Edwards: [after several grousing emails and posts about the settlement from yours truly] Ziller's a closet Sonics fan.

Tom Ziller: I'm a Kings fan who fears the next Clay Bennett!

Matt Moore: Just fear Sacramento deciding to try and bully an owner they KNOW is looking for a way out, playing a game of chicken that they know they can't win after giving both their baseball and football teams (that they don't have) brand new state of the art stadiums, and then refusing to fund measures that would save the team.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Bennett's a jackass, but they KNEW he was a jackass and they decided to try and play hardball regardless.

Ziller: Bennett's a jackass and a conniving, two-faced liar who repeatedly said one thing to the fans, the Legislature, the city, the league and the employees while doing everything in his power behind the scenes to get to his desired outcome, which is a hometown team for his buddies, at the cost of millions of fans and 40 years of civic pride and history.

Fixed.

Moore: Can't disagree with a single statement there. But Seattle is not without fault in this debacle. I'm not lacking in sympathy for the guys of SuperSonicSoul or SonicsCentral. But at some point, the city did exactly what he wanted them to.

Ziller: Well of course the city and Legislature have culpability in the end result. But they weren't the ones who purchased a team under false pretenses and lied to everyone's face about it. Bennett was. And Stern let it happen without recourse, to make an example of Seattle and teach those other cities a lesson. That the city and Leg (and voters) rejected bad plans for new buildings (Key would be fine with a renovation, according to everyone except Bennett and Schultz -- even the NBA agrees with the city on this) is a far smaller crime than those committed by Bennett and Stern.

Will Brinson: The thing that tees me off more than anything is just how culpable David Stern looks in all of this. He and Bennett are known to be long-time friends, and if he really does have the best interest of the league in mind, he would have found a way to stop this move from happening. Yes, OKC will support a basketball team, but there are other places to yank from that don't have the history and tradition that Seattle does (looking at you Beale Street.)

If we, meaning NBA watchers in general, are going to wax conspiratorial, then why aren't we screaming for Stern's head on this? But yes, Bennett is a dirtbag.

Moore: First, I agree with what you said about Bennett, again. He's a lying, cheating, dirty snake. And if he ended up losing every dime he has, this world would have a small measure of justice.

What I disagree with is this notion that Stern's in bed with him. Stern has two priorities, one that feeds off the other. His first is to protect and grow the league. His second is to protect his owners, because they are the core of the league. Like it or not, without owners, no league. From there is the fact that the way the system is now, regardless of how right or wrong it is, cities pay for arenas, owners pay for teams. That's the agreement, with different levels of conjunction between the city, state, local, and ownership levels. It may not be how we want it to be, but it is. And Seattle knew that going in. And they authorized improvements for the other two sports teams in town, and then denied it in the one league it shouldn't have. Improvements? Yes. You're absolutely right. But if you want to protect this team, you have to be willing to block Bennett's every snake-headed move. Once the city, and then state, moved against the owner, Stern's already had his position set. He doesn't get to agree with the city. He doesn't get to side with the fans. His obligation is to the owner, and to that end he has come out looking absolutely evil. But trying to sell me that an Oklahoma hillbilly and a New York lawyer are bosom buddies, trying to defraud a larger market in favor of a smaller one, in a PR disaster of untold proportions? No way.

Bennett's the enemy, but Seattle is the one that let him get away with it. Stern is forced to support a bad situation by the economic environment his league operates in."

Now that said, Stern and Bennett are bosom buddies, which certainly weakens the argument. I don't necessarily think it eliminates it, but I'll admit that regardless of the situation he was put in, the right thing to do would have been to say, "Clay, I'm sorry, but I'll get you an expansion team in three years." I just don't necessarily think the voters are without culpability here.

FanHouse Roundtable: How Much Blame Does Seattle Carry? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No NBA Guarantee, No Expansion Plans: Seattle Sonics Fans Got Screwed

Tom Ziller — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:43:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

So the Sonics will play home games in Oklahoma City next year. Actually, this collection of players employed by the Sonics will be playing home games in Oklahoma City next year, but with a different mascot and a different moniker. The 'Sonics' brand is the only thing staying in Seattle, besides $45 million of Clay Bennett's money. (The other $30 million will only pay out if the city has no NBA team by 2013.)

In his press conference (webcast by KING5.com), Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels confirmed the worst fears of fans: the city caved at the last minute. There is no guarantee of a replacement team in Seattle. There are no plans for NBA expansion on the table, nor any assurance from the league that Seattle will take priority should expansion be considered.

In fact, there are no freaking new plans! Nickels said the city would go back to the Legislature to ask for permission to collect taxes for a KeyArena renovation. This would be the same Legislature that has told everyone involved -- Bennett, David Stern, previous owner and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, prospective owner and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Nickels himself -- the Legislature has told all of them "no no no." The plan, as Nickels communicated it tonight, is to do the same, toothless maneuvering that has already failed repeatedly.

Even if that works -- there's no guarantee from the NBA they'll give Seattle a team! Stern released a statement, telling Seattle it needs to secure its funding plan for a $300 million renovation by the end of 2009 in order to have a shot at a potential, hypothetical team before 2013. His statement is replete with 'ifs.'

What exactly did the city get from this settlement? To me, it looks like a whole lot of nothing.

No NBA Guarantee, No Expansion Plans: Seattle Sonics Fans Got Screwed originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonics Pay Seattle $75 Million, Leave for OKC

Tom Ziller — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

The Seattle Times reports U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman has announced there will be no decision in the Sonics-Seattle lawsuit because a settlement has been reached. The Times quotes sources saying the settlement includes a $75 million buy-out from Clay Bennett, but apparently no NBA promises of a new team in Seattle. And oh yeah, the Sonics are gone.

Greg Johns of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer cites a source who says Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, the former local owner of the Sonics, is not withdrawing his recent suit against Bennett as a part of the settlement. Schultz is suing to force either to rescinding of the 2006 sale of the team or a sale to a local group, based on the argument Bennett violated a specific clause in the purchase agreement which required the new owners to make good faith efforts to get an arena deal done in Seattle.

No words on whether Seattle plans to use the pay-out on KeyArena renovations or a new building or none of the above. Just before Pechman's decision had been expected, fans at SonicsCentral reported assistants with the mayor's office had asked callers whether an expansion or relocated team would be an acceptable resolution. We'll know more once both Bennett and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels hold 8 p.m. Eastern press conferences.

Sonics Pay Seattle $75 Million, Leave for OKC originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonics, Seattle Might Have a Settlement

Tom Ziller — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

Two reports coming out now -- less than two hours before a federal judge is set to decide the fate of the Seattle SuperSonics -- indicate the city and the NBA team might have reached a settlement agreement. The mayor of Seattle, Greg Nickels, has a press conference set for 5 p.m. Pacific, just 60 minutes after U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman is set to deliver her decision on the court's website.

Just after 2 p.m. Pacific, the Seattle Times got a city councilwoman to say "it looks like" there will be a settlement. This jives with comments from another member of the council, Richard McIver, who told The Oklahoman the sides had worked on reaching a deal while trying to work around former owner/Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz's suit against Clay Bennett.

Why would the sides attempt to settle at this late stage? The Sonics obviously want assurance they can leave Seattle ASAP regardless of Pechman's ruling. Seattle might be looking for extra cash beyond the owed lease payments for 2008-09 and 2009-10, and possibly ownership of the 'SuperSonics' moniker and some concession from the league on exploring an expansion team. Both sides want to hedge their bets in case they lose.

UPDATE from FanHouse's Sean Hawkins in Seattle:

KJR AM is now saying they have confirmed it's a settlement. They are speculating that it's a big cash settlement, per an NBA western conference exec. Also, rumors are that no replacement team has been promised, but there could be a "wink-wink" situation brewing that there could be a replacement team in a year or two. [...] Both the mayor and Clay Bennett will have 5 p.m. Pacific new conferences happening at the same time.

UPDATE #2: The Seattle Times reports a settlement has been reached, and will be detailed at the mayor's 5 p.m. press conference.

Sonics, Seattle Might Have a Settlement originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Decision Afoot on the 'Seattle' SuperSonics

Tom Ziller — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

This evening, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman is expected to render her decision in the case of the City of Seattle vs. Professional Basketball Club LLC, the owners of the SuperSonics. In her judgment, Pechman can either tell Seattle it has no authority to force Clay Bennett to keep his business in Seattle for the next two seasons, or she can tell Bennett's he has to keep Kevin Durant and company in the Pacific Northwest through 2010.

Popular consensus says the city bungled its case a bit in this month's hearings in front of Pechman. SuperSonicSoul's Paul Merrill admits as much, but makes a final plea for compassion.

[T]his decision isn't just for die-hard Sonics fans - it's for every sports fan in the country. If this can happen in Seattle, one of the biggest media markets with some of the most loyal fans in the country, it can happen anywhere. Siding with the Bennett Boys is saying it's OK for David Stern and the NBA to blackmail fans and non-fans alike into paying millions of dollars for needless new arenas. It's telling them it's OK to squeeze out the working class fans to make room for high-priced suites for corporate goons who couldn't care less about basketball. It's telling the fans "You don't matter".

At 4pm today, when you post your decision, you are either going to side with common, hard-working citizens or spineless, corporate pirates. I hope you make the right decision.

We hope so, too.

The decision should be available at the court's website at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Decision Afoot on the 'Seattle' SuperSonics originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonics Have First Shocker: Westbrook at #4

Tom Ziller — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:06:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, NBA Draft, Seattle

After Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo went 1-2-3 with no apparent trades, Seattle surprised almost everyone by selecting UCLA point guard Russell Westbrook at #4.

Earlier rumors said Seattle would be picking Indiana guard Eric Gordon in a premeditated exchange with the Clippers at #7. Well, that didn't happen. Was Westbrook the guard L.A. actually wanted? Or is this pick staying in Seatt-- err, Oklahoma City? If it stays with the Sonics, two of the team's three "pieces" for the future are defensive-minded guys (Jeff Green), with Kevin Durant as the offensive superstar.

With two teams who needed centers passing up on Brook Lopez, dude could slide pretty far ... maybe out of the top 12? Jerryd Bayless looks to slip into the deep end of the lottery -- maybe #8, #9, #12 -- with the Westbrook selection.

Meanwhile, Westbrook was slated around #12 or beyond a month ago. Quite a meteoric rise.

Sonics Have First Shocker: Westbrook at #4 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clips Move Up to #4, Sonics Add Another Pick

Tom Ziller — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Clippers, NBA Draft, Los Angeles, Seattle

UPDATE: Any Katz on ESPN said this deal's off for now, but might come back during the draft.

ESPN is reporting that, assuming O.J. Mayo goes #3 to Minnesota, the Clippers will trade picks with Seattle to move up to #4 to grab Eric Gordon, with the Sonics also earning a conditional 2009 first-rounder from L.A. Chad Ford says the Sonics want Brook Lopez at #7.

L.A. has been tied to Gordon for weeks now, and to be honest I assumed he'd be there at #7. Perhaps Elgin Baylor and Mike Dunleavy had heard differently; while I can't imagine a scenario in which New York at #6 or whomever takes Memphis's #5 pick takes Gordon, that doesn't mean no such scenario existed. So the Clippers lose a potentially valuable asset -- it could be another lottery pick next season, as Kelly Dwyer notes -- depending on the protections.

What does this mean for the rest of the lottery? If Seattle is really after Lopez, Jerryd Bayless could slip. (Fingers crossed.) Gordon hadn't been tied to much besides L.A. -- New York is said to be focused on Russell Westbrook and Danilo Gallinari, pre-RJ Milwaukee had been wed to Joe Alexander. This might be one of the few big deals which really has no massive repercussions.

Clips Move Up to #4, Sonics Add Another Pick originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Draft Crystal Ballin': Seattle SuperSonics

Tom Ziller — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, NBA Draft, Seattle

Crystal Ballin' takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.

NOW AUDITIONING: Kevin Durant's back-up singers. REQUIREMENTS: Must be cheap, not prone to angry bouts of choking, love Oklahoma!.

Picks: #4, #24, #32, #46, #50, #56. Send thanks to Otis Smith and Steve Kerr.

Needs: Cheap talent at every position, except the one Durant happens to be playing any given year. Point guard and center are the biggest needs, however.

Best case scenario: An aim including trades might involve thievery of Michael Beasley. That looks difficult considering the lack of food in Seattle's cupboards (beyond picks upon picks). As such, Jerryd Bayless -- a guard in the mold of Gilbert Arenas who will certainly be on the board -- appears to be the pinnacle of opportunity for Sam Presti.

More likely scenario: Bayless looks to be the fellow, lest Minnesota snub its lovers (O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez) at #3. Now about all those picks ... you figure Presti will either package a few to move up into the teens from #24, trade them for future picks, or invest in high-potential guys who may or may not be of non-native blood. Also: if Vegas took bets on "will Seattle trade at least one of its second-round picks to San Antonio?" I'd be a betting fool. S.A. needs bodies, Seattle needs not to have six rookies on its roster.

Please don't take: I'm secretly nervous about Mayo here. If he gets past #3, he has so much value one could see Presti boldly scooping him in order to pry assets out of New York or whomever. And a small slice of me thinks Presti might be getting a little cocky based on his early success. And a small slice of that slice of me wonders what becomes of this team should Mayo be forced to exist in Durant's world.

Trade possibilities: Plentiful opportunities. Everyone but Durant and Jeff Green should be up for bidding, with Luke Ridnour and Chris Wilcox leading the charge. Also, don't expect all these picks to stay in Seattle's hands.

NBA Draft Crystal Ballin': Seattle SuperSonics originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bad Day for the Home Team in Sonics Case

Tom Ziller — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:04:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

As Henry Abbott notes, no one knows what's going to happen in this Sonics vs. Seattle suit. But Percy Allen of the Seattle Times thinks, based on Friday testimony, Clay Bennett's lawyers are pulling away. The day seemed to focus on the Sonics proving that the Seattle had acted in just as much bad faith as anything, hatching a plan by Sen. Slade Gorton (a city consultant) to bleed Bennett dry to force him to sell.

The evidence is a PowerPoint presentation given by Gorton called: The Sonics Challenge: Why a Poisoned Well Affords a Unique Opportunity. It's a 46-page detailed strategy to inflict economic hardship on Bennett. It's scary because it nearly worked.

I find it a tad bit ironic that while the city compiled reams of embarrassing e-mails from the Sonics owners to show they breached a "good faith best effort" promise, Gorton sent e-mails that are now being used against the city.

I believe Allen that this is damning stuff. But I have to wonder: is it more damning than Bennett two-faced posturing on getting an arena deal in Seattle, his public assertions he wanted to stay in the Emerald City while he was emailing his buddies that he's a "man possessed" in terms of landing his franchise in Oklahoma City? Didn't all that force Gorton and the city to play rough?

Of course, none of this matters, as I understand it: Judge Marsha Pechman is only ruling on whether the Sonics are contractually and legally obligated to serve out their lease, or whether cash is valid compensation. How evil Bennett and/or Gorton are seem to have little impact on that central question.

Bad Day for the Home Team in Sonics Case originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonics Judge Not a Sports Fan, Didn't Know Who 'This Griffey Guy' Was in the '90s

Tom Ziller — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

Bad news for people who'd like to believe the sentimentality among NBA fans surrounding Clay Bennett's attempted relocation of the Sonics franchise will affect the outcome: the Seattle Times' Jim Brunner profiles judge Marsha Pechman (who will preside over the court case beginning Monday), and turns up this background information:

The Sonics' fate rests with U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman - a no-nonsense courtroom force whom attorneys and friends describe as unlikely to be moved by media coverage, sentimentality or loyalty to the hometown team. "A lot of us think Marsha is the perfect one for this trial because she could give a rip about sports," said attorney Rebecca Roe, a longtime friend.

Roe recalled that several years after Ken Griffey Jr. began playing for the Mariners - and seemingly all of Seattle was buzzing about "The Kid" - Pechman asked friends at a gathering, "Who is this Griffey guy anyway?"

Seattle's fighters won't be phased by this -- they have held that their case is solid, that the Sonics really are obligated to finish the lease instead of paying it off. (That's the central crux of the case at this point -- whether the Sonics are subject to "specific performance.") But it is a blow for the locals -- that's rather plain to see. The judge doesn't seem like the type to believe there's greater importance in a sports franchise than a restaurant or department store, and that would seem (from this non-legal mind's eyes) to favor Bennett.

Sonics Judge Not a Sports Fan, Didn't Know Who 'This Griffey Guy' Was in the '90s originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonics vs Seattle Judge is Dang Serious

Tom Ziller — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:20:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

The trial which will decide whether Clay Bennett can bust ass out of Seattle this summer officially begins June 16, but federal judge Marsha Pechman has apparently already started slapping the parties around. According to a story from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Greg Johns, Pechman has admonished the media for misprinting a deadline, took "a considerable swipe" at Seattle's attorneys for an attempt to shift the battle their way, and told both sides she wants this thing over quickly.

How quickly?

Each side will get three days of "clock time" in presenting or arguing its case. In court time, that's 15 hours apiece. And Pechman's clock will be running, to the point where the loser of any objections will be docked the amount of time taken to determine that specific argument.

I hope the city's attorney gets into the offense more efficiently than the city's point guards do...

Meanwhile, Bennett testified via a deposition released yesterday that the Sonics stand to lose $60 million if forced to stay in Seattle the next two seasons. The question, of course, is how much of that should be blamed on Bennett's poisonous exit strategy.

Sonics vs Seattle Judge is Dang Serious originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Oklahoma City Sonic Boomers? Ugh

Tom Ziller — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

Don't worry, that awful suggestion has not stuck or anything. But it was a suggestion Sonics minority owner Aubrey McClendon sent to a friend back in July 2006, according to a list of evidence buried in pre-trial documents published by the Tacoma News-Tribune in advance of the team's court date with the city of Seattle and a federal judge. (Link via Enjoy the Enjoyment, who has a good breakdown on the summary arguments for each side.)

Among the various documents on the city's list of evidence to be considered in the case is a slice described as "E-mail string from A. McClendon to KM8881@aol.com" re: FW: The Oklahoma City Sonic Boom (or maybe Sonic Boomers!) Baby!!!!!!!!!!," which has to break some sort of record for exclamation marks. The audacity of the tongue-maiming nickname is rivaled only by the audacity of continued claims by Sonics ownership that it never made eyes at moving the team to Oklahoma City.

That email -- again, forwarded on by a part-owner of the Sonics -- was sent on July 12, 2006. The new owners didn't even hold a press conference to announce the purchase until July 18, 2006! Before the sale was final the guy was talking about moving the team to OKC!

But David Stern still says Clay Bennett and Friends made "good faith" efforts to stick in Seattle, and no one ever talked about OKC. The sheer volume of blatant dishonesty involved here is astounding.

The Oklahoma City Sonic Boomers? Ugh originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lawyer: Sonics Trial 'Will Be a Bloodbath'

Tom Ziller — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:50:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

By my calendar, the start date of the trial in the Sonics relocation case -- June 16 -- falls right between Games 5 and 6 of the NBA Finals. As awesome as that news must be for David Stern (who has culpability in this mess), it could get worse if a Seattle lawyer experienced in these matters is to be believed. Greg Johns of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer talks to Randy Aliment, who represented the Seahawks in their 1996 relocation attempt.

"You'd think the NBA would pull both sides into a room, knock their heads together and say, 'Let's get this resolved,' because it will be a bloodbath in that courtroom," said Aliment. ... "You've definitely got a three-ring circus going now. From a straight legal standpoint, this thing is just about unprecedented. I'm thinking one of the only other comparable situations was when Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders filed suit and things got stupid down there. That one actually went to trial."

Aliment also mentioned the Seahawks owner in '96 had to stick armed guards outside his office. While evidence of physical threat hasn't turned up yet (just some nastygrams for Clay Bennett), there is quite clearly a ton of resentment revolving around this.

Stern's got to be pushing for a settlement. The Sonics vs. Seattle won't knock Lakers vs. Celtics off the front page, but it sure as Hades won't be a positive headline to wake up to on June 17.

Lawyer: Sonics Trial 'Will Be a Bloodbath' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Owner to Sonics Upset About Being Relocation to Oklahoma: 'Boo Hoo'

Tom Ziller — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

Clay Bennett, ladies and gentlemen, just doesn't give a flip. Not about his team's fans. Not about Seattle. And apparently, not even about his players. The hits keep rolling from partially released depositions in Bennett's suit against the city of Seattle to get out of the last two years of his lease, with Greg Johns of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer offering this meatball up.

In an e-mail to Oklahoma-based public relations consultant Brent Gooden after hearing some of the Sonics players were upset about the prospect of moving the franchise to Oklahoma City, Bennett responded by writing, "Boo hoo," according to a line of questioning by city of Seattle attorney Jeff Johnson.

To which Gooden replied, "Great response. I would play wherever for half of the lowest paid player on the team."

I can just see the high-end free agents flocking to the Sonics in a few years. Can't you? I mean, obviously the relationships between NBA players and NBA owners aren't always polite or congenial. But for a new owner to dismiss his kids' concerns so callously, like they are just some inconsequential circus acts paid to do a job and keep their mouths shut?

David Stern let this happen. He could have put the kibosh on all of this for at least a year when the public opinion first seriously turned against Bennett. But he, as the only real ally of Bennett's gambit, pressed the bully behavior forward. And this is the result.

Previously on FanHouse:
How to Tell If Sonics Ownership is Lying ...

Owner to Sonics Upset About Being Relocation to Oklahoma: 'Boo Hoo' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 27 May 2008 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How To Tell If Sonics Ownership is Lying ...

Tom Ziller — Sun, 25 May 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

Via Deadspin, the Sonics ownership got caught with its jubjub in a grinder again. The Seattle Times published quotes from another set of incriminating emails again Saturday, these ones hosting Aubrey McClendon as the star. McClendon, you'll remember, last summer told an Oklahoma publication that the OKC-based ownership group had planned to move the Sonics all along, a statement for which he was fined $250,000 by the league.

The Times' Jim Brunner reveals what followed:

Later that year, McClendon apologized to principal Sonics owner Clay Bennett for telling an Oklahoma newspaper he'd always intended to move the Sonics. But McClendon added, "the truth is we did buy it with the hope of moving to Oklahoma City," according to a copy of his e-mail read aloud during the deposition.

Couldn't these guys come up with a code name for OKC? "Enchildaland" would have worked.

That's not all. Remember the first set of e-missives which drew headlines, in which a third owner, Tom Ward, asked Bennett if he could get the Sonics to play ball "here" (assumedly OKC) in 2008-09, to which Bennett replied that he was doing everything he could and that he was a "man possessed." Well, in an April deposition now public, McClendon asserts the fellas were talking about Seattle!

"Clay is talking about his efforts to get a deal done in Seattle. He frequently would refer to himself as a man in motion, a man possessed. He's just been kicked in the stomach by Olympia the day before and he's saying, I'm not quitting, the game is just getting started. This is John Paul Jones saying I've not yet begun the fight," McClendon said.

Never mind that all Bennett (possessed or not) would need to do to have the team playing in Seattle in 2008-09 would be to ... play in Seattle in 2008-09 by not trying to slip out of his lease in federal court. McClendon's lack of respect for truth is insulting, frankly. We are not idiots, brother.

How To Tell If Sonics Ownership is Lying ... originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 25 May 2008 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If Malevolent Basketball Gods Rule the Lottery

Tom Ziller — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, SuperSonics, Grizzlies, NBA Draft, Miami, Seattle

By theory, the NBA Draft Lottery (tonight at 7:30 p.m. Eastern) is left to randomness. But what if a set of malevolent Basketball Gods, hellbent on upsetting the Order of the League, driving the depressed into further hopelessness, and rewarding only those with misguided or evil intentions, dictated the results? (Note: These malevolent Basketball Gods were responsible for Robert Horry and the Shaq-Marion trade.) Close your eyes and imagine such a world ...

#1 Pick: Seattle SuperSonics. Clay Bennett's already been rewarded by the forces in receiving approval for his relocation to Oklahoma City. But Bennett hates Seattle, and if the Basketball Gods feel the same, they'd totally gift Bennett the choice of Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose to pair up with Kevin Durant as the wagon rides into the dark, dark night. Hell, maybe with the #1 pick in toe, the Sonics can have one final, wildly exciting season in Seattle, just to rub salt in Seattle's gash (which is, of course, in its back).

#2 Pick: Miami Heat. Let's set aside Pat Riley's well-documented relationship with Satan. (They're half-brothers.) Look at the team Riley sent onto the court in March and April! No offense to the D-League purists among us, but if Kasib Powell and Blake Ahearn are regularly starting games for you at this point, you deserve a little anti-karma on the tanking front. The Basketball Gods seem to reward Riley for all of his other transgressions (trading for Jason Williams and Antoine Walker at the same time, knifing a Van Gundy), so why not the most unabashed tanking south of Boston 2007 in modern NBA history?

#3 Pick: Memphis Grizzlies. FH bro Matt Moore pleaded Memphis's case, but no one can justify the hack job ~~Chris Wallace~~ Michael Heisley did in selling Pau Gasol to the lowest bidder. Flexibility is one thing. Unabashed frugality for the goal of selling the team is unadulterated sin. If Heisley gets rewarded by way of Rose, evil has won.

Join NBA FanHouse at 7 p.m. Eastern for a live blog of the lottery, hosted by Brett Edwards.

If Malevolent Basketball Gods Rule the Lottery originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Reveals All-Rookie Teams

Matt Watson — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Hawks, SuperSonics, Eastern, Western, NBA Awards, Atlanta, Seattle, The Word

The NBA revealed it's All-Rookie Teams today, and by and large there weren't any huge surprises. But can you guess who the only unanimous choice to the first team was? If you guessed Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant ... you'd be wrong.

Actually, it was Al Horford, who finished with 29 first-place votes. Durant finished with 28. It's too bad the ballots aren't open -- I'd love to see which NBA coach actually thought Durant was no better than the sixth-best rookie this year. (Remember, coaches can't vote for their own players but aren't limited by position.) Luis Scola (26 first place votes), Al Thornton (20) and Jeff Green (15) rounded out the first team.

On the second team is Jamario Moon (12), Juan Carlos Navarro (5), Thaddeus Young (4), Rodney Stuckey (5) and Carl Landry (1). Other players receiving first place votes include Joakim Noah (1), Nick Young (2), Mike Conley (1) and Corey Brewer (1).

NBA Reveals All-Rookie Teams originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 May 2008 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonics Scream About a Seattle Conspiracy

Tom Ziller — Sat, 03 May 2008 09:50:00 EST

Filed under: SuperSonics, Seattle

That grating, annoying sound you here? That's the table turning in Seattle. Greg Johns of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the Sonics have accused the city of leading a conspiracy to drive a wedge between the franchise and the NBA, using a local developer, local billionaires, and a law firm to gang up on poor little Clay Bennett.

In their latest motion, the Sonics lawyers renewed previous charges that the city's lawsuit over the KeyArena lease is part of a plan designed to force a sale to [local developer Matt] Griffin's group instead of merely solving a dispute over the lease's specific performance clause.

"Particularly based on over a thousand additional documents Griffin just produced, it is clear that the plan from the start was to use this litigation to create financial bleeding for the (Pro Basketball Club) to force them to sell to Griffin's group," the motion says.

The Sonics also claim former Sen. Slade Gorton, working on behalf of the city, has turned a former exec under Bennett into a mole for the Seattle cause. They're aiming to get a slew of private documents opened up, apparently to embarrass the Seattle folks into remission ... as David Stern has been trying to do with his own allegations of bad faith.

Yes, it's incredibly satisfying to hear Bennett chirping about deception. Of course, this doesn't matter -- any potential wedge between franchise and league ultimately failed, as the owners approved the OKC relocation 28-2. The league no longer matters, except in the case of attempting to guarantee an expansion team, which is apparently already on the table in settlement negotiations.

Sonics Scream About a Seattle Conspiracy originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 03 May 2008 09:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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