Originally Posted by SouthsideSooner

From the PI:

PBC attorney Brad Keller revealed damning evidence, exposing a meeting between former Sonics president Wally Walker, Microsoft mogul Steve Baller and former senator Slade Gorton in the winter of 2007 to “increase the pain of staying” for Bennett and force him to sell the team to a group led by Ballmer.

In a meeting Keller tabbed “THE PATH FORWARD,” he said Baller and Gorton met at Walker’s house and 1
1) “increase the pain of staying” (financial and reputation).
2) Decide if there is a buyer (for the team)

Keller said on Dec. 12, 2007, the group wanted to push litigation to force the Sonics to stay and forcing bleeding of about $20 million per year. He also said the city was on board with the “bleed them until they sell” philosophy.”

Keller then revealed a Wally Walker email to billionaire John Stanton on July 24, 2007

“I met with the city today and felt better about my message of fighting Clay’s attempt to leave. Make it too expensive and too litigious for him. I get the impression that they were in total agreement and that they (administration) understood the value of buying more time.”