Seattle Lawyer Wants Promise Of New NBA Team In Bennett Talks
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Gorton Open To Settlement Talks With Sonics
Owner If NBA Promises Seattle New Team |
Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, whose K&L Gates law firm is representing the city of Seattle in its legal fight against the Sonics, yesterday said that "he'll be happy to negotiate with [Sonics Owner] Clay Bennett if settlement talks include [the] guarantee of a replacement franchise," according to Greg Johns of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. Regardless of the outcome of the June trial, during which the city of Seattle will attempt to enforce the KeyArena lease to prevent the team from moving to Oklahoma City, Gorton said that the city "still must come up with an arena funding solution to present [NBA Commissioner David Stern] in order to focus on getting a new team to replace the Sonics." Gorton: "While I'd love to see the Sonics stay, I think that is highly unlikely. What we're trying to accomplish now, in my view, is to get another team in their place. That will, however, require [Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire] and the Legislature to come up with a way for Seattle to pay its share of the KeyArena remodel." Gorton added, "If a replacement team is part of the package, of course we'd talk. My goal from the very beginning has been to have a team. ... If we have a remodeled KeyArena or the promise of one that meets their requirements, and I'm convinced this remodel does, then I think we have a chance for another team. But the chances diminish rapidly after the trial is over. This present lease gives us leverage, so we need to get it done promptly. We have to focus on getting a solution out of Olympia" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 4/22). As of April 14, the city of Seattle had paid K&L Gates $471,000 in legal fees (PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/18 issue).
TOUGH SELL? In Seattle, Gary Washburn writes the NBA "appears to have no plans to expand anytime soon," and as a result, it "may be difficult" for Seattle to negotiate for a new team. The NBA BOG would have to approve expansion, which would mean "cutting another team in on the revenue-sharing pie." Stern and most NBA owners "would prefer to relocate a financially struggling team rather than create a new team that could also potentially flounder financially." Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban also "doesn't hesitate to express his disinterest in expansion." Cuban: "I would always vote against expansion because expansion's the worst economic move a league like the NBA can make. Expansion is nothing more than a loan because whatever (a new owner would) give you (in expansion fees), you pay them back in equity ownership of the NBA and share of the TV money" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 4/22).
WHOSE TEAM IS IT? In Oklahoma City, Darnell Mayberry reports the word Seattle is "nowhere to be found" on the Sonics official Web site, SuperSonics.com. But Sonics officials said that Seattle references were omitted February 28, when the site was "relaunched to introduce a new design." Sonics PR Dir Tom Savage said, "It's not like we took them off on Friday. It's an entirely different look. We never talked about (removing Seattle) because of the uncertainty surrounding the franchise" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 4/22).
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