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Seattle attorneys seek chance to question Stern | NewsOK.com


NBA is saying that Seattle is just trying to harass Stern

"There can be no doubt that the sole purpose of the deposition is to harass the NBA and its commissioner,” NBA attorneys argued to a federal judge in New York City.

The NBA's president of league and basketball operations, Joel Litvin, has agreed to be questioned, but the NBA wants limits on what Litvin can be asked.

The NBA also wants limits on what information it should turn over to Seattle attorneys, particularly information on the finances of other NBA teams.

Seattle attorneys argued: "The NBA is a very important source of evidence regarding how NBA teams generally affect communities. This evidence will allow the City to test — and prove false — (the Oklahoma owners') ... claim that the loss of the Sonics will not hurt Seattle.”

The Seattle attorneys argued it is necessary to question Stern because he had private conversations with Sonics Chairman Clay Bennett on relocation and other related topics.

NBA attorneys argued whatever the Oklahoma owners told the NBA about their relocation intentions is "totally irrelevant” to the lawsuit.