Sonics minority owner says team destined for Oklahoma City

Sonics minority owner Aubrey McClendon insists team owners have made good-faith efforts to secure an arena deal in the Seattle area, despite comments to an Oklahoma City newspaper that he always meant for the team to move there.

McClendon said in a profile published today by The Journal Record, "we didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here."

Sonics principal owner Clay Bennett and McClendon each issued statements today downplaying McClendon's remark.

McClendon said his comment to the Oklahoma City business newspaper reflected his "personal desire concerning NBA basketball in Oklahoma City" and said "it cannot in any way be interpreted to mean the organization has not exhaustively pursued every reasonable avenue to get an arena deal done and keep the Sonics and Storm in Seattle."

But both McClendon and Bennett used their statements to remind local politicians that they want an arena deal before Oct. 31. Bennett has said he will file with the NBA for permission to relocate the teams if no arena deal is secured here.

McClendon's comments drew immediate ire from some Seattle fans and politicians who have long questioned the sincerity of the Oklahoma City businessmen who purchased the Sonics and Storm last year. SonicsCentral.com, a local fan site, posted a link to the Journal Record story Sunday afternoon under the headline "Clay Bennett is a liar."

In his comments to The Journal Record, McClendon, chief executive of natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy, acknowledged the NBA team would make more money if it stayed put in the Pacific Northwest, but said financial difficulty won't be what prevents the team from moving to Oklahoma City.

"We know it's a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it's great for the community and if we could break even we'd be thrilled," he told the newspaper, also saying he was "under a self-imposed gag order" in regards to the business end of the Sonics.

But that didn't stop him from saying city leadership in Seattle — and a new arena — will decide the future of the team, according to the article.

"They've got 60 days to make some decisions they haven't been willing to make in the past year, and if they make them in a way that satisfies Clay [Bennett], then the team will stay there," he said. "If they don't meet the requirements he's laid out, the team will move and Clay has indicated they'll come to Oklahoma City."

Majority owner Bennett set an Oct. 31 deadline to file papers to start moving the team, although the Sonics' lease with Seattle's KeyArena runs into 2010. State lawmakers have declined to commit taxpayers to help build an arena that would cost about $500 million.

In the same article, Bennett is quoted as saying the year since Professional Basketball Club bought the Sonics — along with the WNBA's Storm — has not been easy.

"Our experience in Seattle with our investment in the SuperSonics and Storm has had many challenges," Bennett said. "That said, we are as committed as ever to a successful outcome."

McClendon said Oklahoma City has a "can-do spirit" and a supportive fan base.

"This is a sports town; nobody ever knew it was a pro sports town. I think it is," he said.

On the flip side, he said he doesn't feel Seattleites have the same enthusiasm.

"They take pride in Seattle not needing a NBA team to be considered a world-class city. That's probably true, they don't," he said.

After noting the Sonics were going through ownership challenges, Bennett made a move for the team last year.

And "to the great amazement and surprise to everyone in Seattle, some rednecks from Oklahoma, which we've been called, made off with the team," said McClendon.

Material from The Associated Press was included in this report. Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com. Christina Siderius: csiderius@seattletimes.com