http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2201269 <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Sonics' trial to start June 16</span> Wednesday, May 7, 2008 02:13 PM TACOMA, Washington (Ticker) -- A United States District court judge on Tuesday rejected a motion by the owners of the Seattle SuperSonics, meaning a trial to determine where the team plays next season will start as scheduled on June 16. According to the News Tribune in Tacoma, the Sonics had asked judge Marsha Pechman in Seattle to determine how much a potential buyout would cost if the Sonics won the case regarding the terms of their lease at KeyArena. Pechman ruled, however, that she could not determine monetary damages between the city and the Sonics. She said granting the Sonics' request could have delayed the start date of the trial. New Seattle owner Clay Bennett wants to relocate the franchise to Oklahoma City starting with next season, a move that was overwhelmingly approved by NBA owners. However, the city filed a lawsuit, claiming that the lease agreement requires the team to play all its home games at KeyArena through the 2009-2010 season.
The only date in this entire process that matters. The lease is what is keeping the team in Seattle and Bennett's ability to break it is what will take the team from Seattle. Everything else is compelling but this is the date that all Sonics fans should have circled on their calenders.
