Sonics move to Oklahoma, the Okie City Sonics?
July 2, 2008 by James Edwards
Filed under Kevin Durant
NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.
Kevin Durant skips for joy on learning his game is going to Oklahoma
Image details: Seattle SuperSonics v Denver Nuggets served by picapp.com
Maybe it was the okey dokey, but Seattle had to let them go.
The agreement ends a contentious relationship that culminated in a recent six-day federal trial over terms of the team’s KeyArena lease. The judge was scheduled to rule Wednesday afternoon.
The settlement calls for Sonics owner Clay Bennett and his Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay as much as $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the lease. The team’s name and colors will be staying in Seattle.
“We made it,” Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. “The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season.”
New owner wins over old owner.
It’s a victory for Bennett, who purchased the Sonics in 2006 from Starbucks Corp. Chairman Howard Schultz for $350 million, and will take the franchise to his hometown. Bennett faced harsh criticism in Seattle for his efforts in trying to build a new arena as a replacement for KeyArena, and the presumption he wanted to move the franchise all along.
Hey, the Seattle SuperSonics have stunk in recent history. Now they have a new city, new arena, new owner, and one of the best young players in Kevin Durant.
Let’s go Okie City Sonics!
As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.
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