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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Southbound Sonics Settle With Seattle

City will be paid up to $75M to let team move to Oklahoma City

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(Newser) – The Seattle Supersonics have reached a last-minute deal with their hometown that will let the team move to Oklahoma City for the start of the next NBA season, reports the Seattle Times. The agreement, made just hours before a judge was to rule on a lawsuit over the team's arena lease, will give the city $45 million now and $30 million more if it has no new NBA team within five years.

"We made it," Sonics owner Clay Bennett told a cheering crowd in his Oklahoma hometown. "The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season, playing their games." He promised the move would begin today. The Sonics still face a lawsuit from former owner Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, who accuses Bennett of breaking a promise to keep the team in Seattle.

Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett smiles during a news conference in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. The Sonics will move to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season.
Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett smiles during a news conference in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. The Sonics will move to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season.   (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Bryan Terry)
Fans chant
Fans chant "Save our Sonics" as they participate in a rally for the NBA basketball team outside the Federal Courthouse where a case was being tried between the city and the team owner Clay Bennett .   (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels heads to the podium for a news conference about NBA basketball's Seattle SuperSonics leaving the city, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. T
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels heads to the podium for a news conference about NBA basketball's Seattle SuperSonics leaving the city, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. T   (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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