Anger and angst over Sonics' looming departure

The Sonics play their final game of the season tonight, and if owner Clay Bennett has his way it will be their final game as a Seattle team.

The NBA Board of Governors will meet in New York this week and is expected to approve the Sonics' move to Oklahoma City.

Former owner Howard Schultz says he'll sue Bennett to get the team back, claiming Bennett breached their contract when he claimed he would make a good-faith effort to keep the team in Seattle. And then there's a trial that starts June 16, with the City of Seattle asking that the Sonics be forced to play at KeyArena for the duration of their lease, which runs through 2010.

On the bright side, for Sonics fans, Bennett did offer to leave the name, colors and history behind — for a price, of course.

The whole notion has stirred plenty of emotion in Seattle and Oklahoma City. Throughout the season, I've spoken to plenty of people involved on all sides of the pending move.

Sonics employees can't get any answers about their futures. Fans are growing angrier. Sonics players are trying to just focus on the game. And native Washingtonians who also play in the NBA are trying to campaign for their hometown team, but know they're powerless against the owners they work for.

A sample of what has been said:

"I hate it! After they retired my jersey, the only thing I've heard from [team management] was a kid asking me to attend the Cleveland game, and I got a standing ovation. I called and tried to get involved with whatever, but nobody took me up on it. I guess my use was used with that one event." — Sonics legend Spencer Haywood, April 15, 2008

"If Clayton Bennett was from my town and I lived in a non-NBA town, he'd be my hero. He's doing all of the right things. The problem is, should that team move from Seattle? The only certainty in my mind is that it should not come from Seattle. When we [NBA Board of Governors] look at relocation, as best I can tell, we just look at the destination city and ask is it capable as opposed to what is the best choice. I'm trying to stand up and say I don't think moving is the best choice. Again, I think Clayton Bennett would be phenomenal for the NBA, I just don't think moving the team from Seattle is the way to do it." — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, April 13, 2008

"As a fan growing up and obviously still being deeply rooted in the community here, it's disheartening to hear all of those things [about relocation]. To realize it may be a reality is going to be tough. Hopefully once they leave, they can get another team to come back in here. Seattle without basketball? That's tough." — Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks guard and Franklin High grad, April 13, 2008

"It just doesn't make sense that people can't figure it out. I can understand the ownership would want a building that would generate revenue similar to other cities, I just can't understand why there isn't some answer." — Paul Westphal, former Sonics coach and current Dallas Mavericks assistant coach, April 13, 2008

"I thought it was great they [fans] were supporting us. Hopefully it's not too little, too late. The year we've had, it's not normal to have [a near sellout in the home finale] but we appreciate it. It's nothing against Oklahoma City, but this is where we've been. I think most guys don't like getting traded, it's just hard to move. That's human nature. I think most guys like living here and playing here." — Sonics forward Nick Collison, April 13, 2008

"This could very well be my last game calling the Sonics because I will not be going to Oklahoma City. Definitely not going." — The voice of the Sonics, Kevin Calabro, April 11, 2008

"We will, of course, continue to try to find a way to recreate a Seattle NBA franchise, but the absence of necessary support in Olympia now, in striking contrast to that shown by Mayor Greg Nickels, makes that task far more daunting." — Former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, April 8, 2008

"I don't know anything about the move. I try to stay away from it because I know I can't do nothing about it. I'm just here to play basketball and I'm going to continue to do that and let it [the relocation] handle itself. I've got to adapt to whatever happens." — Sonics rookie forward Jeff Green, April 6, 2008

"It'll be a sad day if the Sonics leave, but hopefully that doesn't happen. The Seahawks were about to leave, and they stayed. I'm hoping for a miracle." — Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets guard and Franklin High grad, April 4, 2008

"You don't know if you're going to be here next year, you don't know if the team is going to be here next year. I tried to tell them [teammates] that we have to stay focused and try to learn from these games. Win, lose or draw, we've got to fight and play hard." — Sonics forward Donyell Marshall, March 13, 2008

"We ... need to recognize the fact that we are trying to tighten our budget right now. We're looking for cuts, and to be cutting the budget and building something for a professional sports team sends the wrong message." — Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, March 8, 2008

"They [New Orleans players] said they liked it [Oklahoma City], but it was kind of difficult for them, too, because they were in Oklahoma and then they went to New Orleans where they suffered all the tragic stuff. We would like to know so we can know what to do with our families and homes." — Sonics forward Chris Wilcox, Feb. 2, 2008

"I was in college when [the Sonics] won the world championship, and I was so excited. Obviously we would love to have that magic again. It would leave a large, large void if the Sonics were gone." — Washington coach Lorenzo Romar, Feb. 2, 2008

"Sad. Sad. Jamal [Crawford], Brandon [Roy], myself, a lot of guys from Seattle don't want the team to go. We would love to participate in [keeping the Sonics in Seattle], but we don't know how to. This is home to us, and we would love to come home and play. But however the owners feel, you can't change their minds. It kind of sucks. There's only so much everybody can do. All of these people want them to stay, and I don't know if it's really going to matter that much." — Nate Robinson, New York Knicks guard and Rainier Beach High grad, Feb. 2, 2008

"That's ridiculous [statements that there's no cultural value to the Sonics]; whoever said that is out of touch with the effect that sports have on society. You look at it economically and culturally, and it's one of the longest-running franchises. You go around to the people of Seattle, and I bet they have something to say about that." — Spencer Hawes, Sacramento Kings center and Seattle Prep grad, Jan. 27, 2008

"We all have a play in trying to keep this team here, and even though I'm not here, I would still like to see this team stay in this city." — Ray Allen, former Sonics guard and current Boston Celtic, Dec. 27, 2007

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com