Video: NBA owners approve Sonics' request to move

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NEW YORK – Plans to move the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City cleared a major hurdle Friday as NBA owners approved the team's relocation request. Minutes after the vote, Sonics majority Clay Bennett tried to clear the air about e-mails that apparently showed his ownership group talking about moving the team last year.

The vote was 28-2. The two teams that voted against it were the Dallas Mavericks, owned by Mark Cuban, and Portland Trail Blazers, owned by Microsoft co-founder and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen. Only a simple majority was necessary for approval, which was expected after the league's relocation committee unanimously recommended the move.

"We think that the support for the NBA demonstrated by the fans, government leaders and business community of Oklahoma City over the last three years has been extraordinary, and the board of governors expressed confidence that the level of local support will result in success for the relocated franchise in Oklahoma City, whenever that is," said NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Bennett said he was thrilled for Oklahoma City, but apologetic to Seattle fans.

"I want to express my regret to the citizens of Seattle and fans of the Sonics that I was unsuccessful in bringing forth a new building, we tried the best we knew how to try," said Bennett.

Now it appears all that can save 41 years of NBA basketball in Seattle is a three-pronged legal fight against Bennett and his partners:

-- A trial, set to begin June 16, in which the city is trying to force the team to play out its KeyArena lease through 2010.

-- A class-action lawsuit brought by season-ticket holders who say they were duped into buying tickets under the premise the Sonics wouldn't leave.

-- Former team owner Howard Schultz's new plans to sue to get the team back.

The city already has rejected Bennett's $26 million to settle the lease dispute. Bennett on Friday would not say how much he was willing to offer the city but said he wants a reasonable settlement.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels says the city is pressing ahead with its lawsuit. He says the longer they play in Seattle the better the chance for a long-term future in the city.

Over the past week, one of the big issues that Sonics fans and lawmakers from Washington hoped would derail the vote was e-mails that apparently showed Bennett talking with his fellow owners about moving the team during the so-called good-faith period for negotiating a Seattle arena deal. Not long after state lawmakers last year rejected a bid to build a $500 million publicly-financed Renton arena, the owners e-mailed openly in April of 2007 about moving the team.

Tom Ward asked, "Is there any way to move here for next season or are we doomed to have another lame duck season in Seattle?"

Bennett responded. "I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys, the game is getting started!"

Ward responded back, "That's the spirit!! I'm willing to help any way I can to watch ball here next year."

Bennett said Friday his role in that e-mails were misrepresented and that he was speaking of his commitment to a process in Seattle.

"That e-mail exchange first took place when I first learned our bill had died in committee in Olympia, and that there would be no public funding forthcoming … my absolute feeling and notion in that e-mail is I am a man possessed, I am only beginning, I will do everything I can to get this done in Seattle," said Bennett, emphasizing the last two words. "And there's been an enormous misunderstanding of that."

A testy Stern would not answer if he'd read the e-mails or if they factored into the vote.

"No one amongst the 30 owners questioned the good-faith of Clay Bennett, the leader of this franchise, and accepted his assurances that he had acted in good-faith," said Stern.

Bennett also made a statement which figures to play a part in negotiations with the city and the future of basketball in Seattle – the team's name and colors.

"Well, the name certainly at the end of the day, I believe the name should probably stay and the history marks and colors should probably stay. That's my personal opinion, but should be part of a larger discussion," said Bennett.

Gov. Chris Gregoire called it a sad day for basketball fans across Washington state.

"The owners' action is especially frustrating in light of recent revelations that Mr. Bennett and his partners were not acting in good faith when they purchased the team and agreed in writing to make every effort to keep the team in Seattle. We now know that was never their intention," said Gregoire.

Her counterpart in Oklahoma had a much different response.

"The vote further confirms that Oklahoma is in the big leagues and can compete with anyone," Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry said in a statement.

If Sonics' owners win the upcoming litigations, the question then becomes whether Seattle will get a new NBA franchise in the future. Stern aimed his guns at former Senator Slade Gorton and Nickels, insinuating difficult lease buyout negotiations could hinder the potential for a future Seattle franchise.

"I think Senator Gorton and the mayor are determined to exact whatever pound of flesh is possible here and they will and the team will leave," said Stern.

On Thursday, attorneys for the Sonics' owners accused the City of Seattle of using its lawsuit to enforce the KeyArena lease as a way to cost the owners money in the hopes they would be forced to sell the team. In a federal court filing, the attorneys even cite Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, saying that he admitted the lease was "economically dysfunctional."

The Sonics posted a 20-62 record this past season, the worst in franchise history.

KING 5's Chris Daniels is in New York City for the NBA owners' vote on the Sonics move. Watch his live reports Friday on KING 5 News and on KING5.com and NWCN.com.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)