Bennett is first in line for OKC, NBA says

WASHINGTON — The Sonics have exclusive rights to the Oklahoma City market, according to the NBA constitution, which means New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn can't block Sonics chairman Clay Bennett's relocation bid.

Shinn has been mentioned as having interest in returning to Oklahoma City, which hosted his Hornets after Hurricane Katrina.

"Any other team that has interest in moving to Oklahoma City would have had to apply within 45 days of the Sonics' application," league spokesman Tim Frank said in a telephone interview Friday. "So, therefore, we're only reviewing the application submitted by Clay Bennett and the Sonics."

The Sonics filed for relocation Nov. 2, which established a Dec. 17 deadline for counterproposals. Once that deadline passed, the Sonics were awarded exclusive rights to Oklahoma City until their application is decided.

The NBA formed a relocation committee of seven owners, which is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of Governors at an April meeting.

At issue is the city of Seattle's lawsuit against the Bennett-led Professional Basketball Club, which owns the Sonics. The city wants the team to play at KeyArena for the duration of its lease, which expires after the 2009- 10 season. Bennett would like to buy out the lease and move to Oklahoma City next season.

The case has been reassigned to U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman.

The sides are expected to hold pretrial meetings in the next two weeks before Pechman sets a trial date. The case isn't expected to be decided before the Board of Governors' meeting.

The NBA would need Bennett to resolve his legal situation before the 2008-09 schedule is determined. Typically, the league completes scheduling in August.

Despite the potential hurdles, if any team plays in Oklahoma City next season, it will be the Sonics and not the Hornets, who spent two seasons there from 2005 through 2007.

Their return to New Orleans hasn't been a smooth transition. Despite a surprising amount of corporate support, a 21-11 record and an All-Star candidate in guard Chris Paul, the Hornets rank last in the league in average home attendance at 11,871.

Twice the Hornets drew fewer than 9,000 fans. Even before Katrina and Rita slammed into the Gulf shores, the Hornets averaged 14,221 in 2004-05, about 4,000 fewer than their average during their stay in Oklahoma City.

Several other issues plague the Hornets. Games are not televised locally because of a dispute between the cable company that broadcasts games and the provider that carries them. Ground has not been broken on a $20 million downtown New Orleans practice facility, a promise from the state of Louisiana that helped lure the team from Charlotte. And Shinn's relationship with local and state politicians has been described as "icy" in newspaper editorials.

Few optimists outside NBA commissioner David Stern's office think the Hornets will remain in New Orleans once their lease expires in 2012. Recently there has been rampant speculation that Shinn would try to force a move back to Oklahoma City immediately following the Feb. 17 All-Star Game in New Orleans.

"That's not going to happen," Frank said. "The rules are very clear. That market belongs to Bennett and the Sonics, for now."

Notes

• X-rays of F Chris Wilcox's dislocated right pinkie didn't reveal any serious damage, but there is considerable swelling. He returned to Seattle on Friday and will remain there until the swelling subsides. He's listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Washington and questionable for Tuesday's game in Cleveland.

• The Sonics flew to Washington, D.C., on Friday afternoon. Sunday's game is a homecoming for rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and reserve guard Delonte West. Durant and West were born in the district; Green was born in nearby Cheverly, Md.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com