SuperSonics' relocation inevitable, Stern says

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2008 | by Jon Saraceno

NEW ORLEANS -- To the surprise of almost no one, the SuperSonics are "heading out of Seattle," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in his state-of-the-league address during All-Star weekend.

"I accept that inevitability, at this point," he said in a news conference Saturday night. "There is no miracle here."

Stern said he wanted the team to buy out the remaining two years on its lease at KeyArena, but the offer was declined. Sonics owner Clay Bennett plans to relocate the franchise to Oklahoma City after this season, but the city of Seattle has filed a lawsuit seeking to enforce the terms of the lease.

"I think it's bad public policy," Stern said. "I feel badly that the team, when it leaves now or in two years, is going to leave behind an unpaid debt...