Originally published Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 12:00 AM

James Donaldson not as optimistic as Gary Payton about NBA team

Former Seattle Sonic James Donaldson said he met with Gary Payton last week, but says he isn't interested in becoming an NBA owner and disagrees...

By Percy Allen

Seattle Times staff reporter

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Former Sonic James Donaldson

Former Seattle Sonic James Donaldson said he met with Gary Payton last week, but says he isn't interested in becoming an NBA owner and disagrees with Payton about a team returning to Seattle by 2011.

"I'm not quite that optimistic simply because I realize that KeyArena is still going to be an issue for any NBA team that comes to town," said Donaldson, who is running for Seattle City Council in 2009. "Probably within the next 5-10 years realistically. Three years might be overly optimistic unless everything really lines up and plays out just perfectly."

On Sunday, Payton said he was teaming with Donaldson to bring a team to Seattle.

"I'm inside with the NBA a little bit," Payton said. "I think before 2011, a team will be here. A lot of teams want to move, so I think Seattle's got a good shot at it."

Donaldson, who played three seasons with the Sonics in the early 1980s, said he and Payton have yet to meet with other former Sonics, potential investors or NBA commissioner David Stern. Over the next few years, Donaldson hopes to forge a coalition of former Sonics to engage in community-oriented events "and keep the Sonics' legacy alive."

"I don't know about ownership," Donaldson said. "I'm involved more on just bringing folks together and building bridges amongst various parties in the region. I hope to be able to do that from the city-council level and working with all of our elected officials regionwide."

Note

• Six months after local businessman Dave Bean and former Sonics great Fred Brown unveiled plans to build a $1 billion privately financed sports complex for an NBA and NHL team, they still have not settled on a site.

Bean said nine locations were considered and only three remain. He declined to be specific, but said the Pier 46 site is no longer an option.

Bean said the project is proceeding slowly and admitted he's frustrated with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who favors a KeyArena renovation.

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