Daunting deadline
OKLAHOMA CITY – On the eve of the day in which owners of the Seattle Sonics could take the first step in relocating to Oklahoma City, Mayor Mick Cornett said Wednesday that the city doesn’t have any role in determining the future location of the franchise.
Wednesday marked Sonics chairman Clay Bennett’s self-imposed deadline for reaching a new arena agreement in Washington before he intends to apply with the NBA to relocate to Oklahoma City. No viable arena plan that includes funding has emerged, but the team is involved in a federal court case with the city of Seattle to determine whether it can escape the final two years of its arena contract.
Although Bennett said last month that he would not file his application on Wednesday to avoid overshadowing his team’s home opener, it could only be a matter of days before he begins the relocation process.
A statement released Tuesday by Dan Mahoney, a spokesman for the ownership group, said Bennett “will have further comment on the organization’s next steps” on Friday.
Cornett, however, remains cautious not to overstep his boundaries by pursuing the team and plans on waiting for confirmation from the NBA’s offices in New York before acting. Even then, Cornett said he would be careful not to act inappropriately.
“I don’t necessarily know, not having been through that process before, about what would be appropriate and what would not be,” said Cornett, who guards against mentioning the Sonics directly. “Once the league tells me that a team has filed for relocation, I think I would ask them, ‘What are the appropriate steps now for a city to take with regard to that ownership group?’ “
Cornett said there has been no communication between the city and the Sonics’ Oklahoma-based ownership group in the days leading up to the deadline. Cornett added that there also has not been any contact between him and the league office regarding the matter.
Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr, however, downplayed the significance of the deadline.
“It doesn’t mean anything to us,” Carr said. “That’s their thing, not ours. We intend to hold them to their lease. They’re going to be in Seattle until at least September of 2010 if we can (win in) court. The deadline was one imposed by Mr. Bennett. We’ve tried to talk to him in good faith, and he’s refused to return our phone calls.
“We have offered to negotiate with Mr. Bennett, but he isn’t interested. He actually blew off my mayor, who offered him $100 million, which is beyond insulting.”
Carr added that the city likely would ask the court to issue a temporary restraining order against the Sonics to prevent a move if Bennett does file for relocation.
Carr also said he doesn’t see anything that could end the litigation process and bring forth a resolution, saying the two sides reached “the point of no return back in September when Mr. Bennett filed to get out of his lease.”
“Mr. Bennett coming to his senses would help,” Carr said. “But he’s determined to move that team.”
The NBA has a systemic process for any of its franchises looking to relocate, which starts with NBA Commissioner David Stern appointing a relocation committee of no less than five governors within 10 days of receiving the application.
Stern has 120 days from the date he receives the application to make a recommendation to the appointed board. The board, which determines the relocation fee, will then vote on the move no sooner than seven days and no later than 30 days after the recommendation is made.