Next season in Seattle — but then what happens?

Q: Are the Sonics and Storm packing up and leaving?

A: Not right away. It looks like the teams will play at least their 2007-08 seasons in Seattle. Team owner Clay Bennett would have had to notify the NBA by March 1 if he intended to move the teams next year. He didn't do that, and Bennett signed an agreement when he purchased the teams to try until at least Oct. 31 — just prior to the start of the season — to secure an arena deal.

Q: What is the NBA's role?

A: Any move would have to be approved by the NBA board of governors. NBA Commissioner David Stern has said he doesn't want to lose the Seattle market, but he's also said the Sonics need a new arena to stay. If the league did approve a Sonics/Storm move, it would likely come with a hefty "relocation fee" charged to owners. When the Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, owner George Shinn had to pay a $30 million fee.

Q: Does the lease with Seattle prevent the teams from moving?

A: The Sonics and Storm have a lease at KeyArena until Sept. 30, 2010. Breaking that lease would subject the teams to large financial penalties, city officials say. Bennett has suggested he may try to negotiate a way out of the lease before 2010, but it's not clear he would be successful. Seattle City Council President Nick Licata says the teams should play through the end of their lease because the city needs time to plan for KeyArena's future. "I can't imagine they would be able to offer us a sweet enough deal" to leave early, Licata said.

Q: Is there any chance the Sonics arena proposal will be revived?

A: Maybe. Bennett says he'll keep trying and that he's been talking to experts about possible private funding or other options. But he so far has refused to extend his Oct. 31 deadline into next year to give the Legislature another chance. And Gov. Christine Gregoire has told him she won't call lawmakers into special session to revive the $500 million Renton arena proposal.