Gregoire, Sims, legislators urge NBA to stop Sonics vote

Gov. Christine Gregoire and legislative leaders today urged NBA Commissioner David Stern to reject or delay a scheduled vote on allowing the Sonics to move to Oklahoma City.

In a letter to Stern and all 30 NBA team owners, Gregoire and the other political leaders said recently disclosed e-mails between Clay Bennett and fellow Sonics owners reveal they "were never, in fact, acting in good faith to keep the team here in Seattle."

The NBA Board of Governors is set to meet Thursday and Friday to vote on Bennett's request to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City as early as next year.

The letter from Washington state politicians touts Seattle as a larger and more lucrative market for the NBA, arguing that "Any move of the team away from Seattle would be a breach of faith with the fans, breach of contract with the previous owners, a violation of the lease with the city and contrary to the league's stated intentions regarding franchise relocation."

In addition to Gregoire, the letter was signed by state House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin.

Noticeably absent from the letter was Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who previously has criticized Gregoire and the Legislature for writing letters instead of passing legislation that would have funded a $300 million KeyArena remodel pushed by his office.

The latest letter does not promise any specific action on the KeyArena plan. Lawmakers have pledged to form a task force to study the issue for next year.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank had no immediate comment on the latest developments and said he expects the NBA to go ahead with its relocation vote.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com