Bennett will eventually make another buyout offer; they (Seattle) tested the waters on this first--Bennett's offer went to $30 million (pay-off two years left on the lease and retire the debt on KeyArena from the 1996 renovation.

Seattle is still paying off the Kingdom, Quest Field (Seahawks) and Safeco Field (Mariners).

Are they stupid enough to pass that up?

Let's say it goes to trail and Seattle loses--political heads will fall--they think that a trail will be a slam dunk for Seattle.

What if the judge sees it differently and desides that "specific performance" should be compromised and allows the Sonic to buyout one of those two years or both.

The Sonic pay approximately $6 to $8 million a year in rent to KeyArena the City gets half of the revenue on Luxury Suite Sales--no wonder the franchise is losing $17 million annually in Seattle.

They will pay only $1.6 million at the Fabulous Ford Center which is more closely alligned with the league average, so I was told.

Stern called Seattle's lease agreement the worst in the NBA.

They (City of Seattle) want to keep Bennett there to play out the lease just to Bleed the Sonics'owners.

They believe that the longer the Sonics stay, the more likely Bennett's group will sell.

I got news for Seattle, Bennett will hold firm, "The team's not for sale!"