The Seattle SuperSonics may not try to escape their lease at KeyArena through arbitration, a federal judge said Monday. Judge Ricardo S. Martinez called the team's interpretation of the contract "as errant as a typical Shaquille O'Neal free throw."
The decision was a victory for the city and means officials may continue to seek a court order forcing the Sonics to play the next three seasons at the NBA's smallest venue.
"The Sonics have made clear they're attempting to leave after this coming season," Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr said. "The city wants an order from the judge saying they cannot escape the terms of their lease."
New Sonics' Chairman Clay Bennett failed to win public funding this year to build a new arena. Last month, he issued a demand for arbitration, hoping to buy out the remainder of the lease unless a deal on a new facility could be reached by the end of this month.
Via ESPN
Oklahoma City
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Kevin Durant, Seattle's second overall choice, moved fluidly while completing practice Monday, two days before the season opener at Denver. It was the first extensive basketball work for last season's national college player of the year since he sprained his left ankle in a preseason game Oct. 23.
Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo would not declare Durant ready to start at shooting guard in the nationally televised opener against the Nuggets on Wednesday night. Seattle then has its home opener Thursday night against Phoenix.
"He looked decent. He probably did a little more than probably we thought he'd be able to do," Carlesimo said, after Durant joined Earl Watson, Damien Wilkins, Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison on the first team for a scrimmage that ended practice.
Via ESPN
Oklahoma City, Denver Nuggets
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Oct 27, 2007 10:37 AM EST
Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive preseason game for the SuperSonics Friday night. The second overall pick in June's draft was back in Seattle shooting and walking on a treadmill to test his sprained left ankle.
Coach P.J. Carlesimo said he talked Durant, his rookie shooting guard who turned his ankle late in a game Tuesday, but the coach had no idea whether Durant will be ready for the opener. Doctors hope to have a better idea after the team resumes practicing on Sunday.
"Kevin feels better," Carlesimo said, though he stressed that he won't push the 19-year-old just so he can start the nationally televised opener. "He definitely needs to practice before he plays," Carlesimo said, referring to at least Monday and Tuesday. "If he doesn't practice, he won't play."
Via The Southern Illinoisan
Oklahoma City
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Oct 2007 Archive
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Seattle Times | Oct 27, 2007
Chris Wilcox scored 27 points but fifth draft pick Jeff Green sprained his ankle in the Seattle SuperSonics' 121-108 win over the Phoenix Suns in the exhibition finale for both teams Friday night.
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RealGM Staff Report | Oct 26, 2007
The Seattle SuperSonics announced on Friday that they have exercised the fourth-year team option on center Johan Petro and the third-year team option on center Mouhamed Sene for the 2008-09 season.
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Seattle Post-Intelligencer | Oct 26, 2007
Starbucks Corp.
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Seattle Post-Intelligencer | Oct 25, 2007
Those expecting NBA Commissioner David Stern to ride to the rescue and save Sonics' basketball in Seattle might want to think again.
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The News Tribune | Oct 25, 2007
If all goes well, Seattle SuperSonics' rookie Kevin Durant should recover from a sprained left ankle in time to play in the team’s regular-season opener on Halloween in Denver against the Nuggets.
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USA Today | Oct 24, 2007
SuperSonics rookie forward Kevin Durant injured his left ankle in a 126-122 overtime loss to the Warriors on Tuesday.
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Yahoo.com | Oct 24, 2007
The Nuggets on Tuesday waived forward Stacey Augmon, guard Anthony Roberson, forward-center Jelani McCoy, forward-center Brad Stricker and guard Mike Wilks.
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Seattle Post-Intelligencer | Oct 23, 2007
After being beaten at the center position against both the Lakers and the Rockets over the past four days, the Sonics are now looking to use undersized forward Nick Collison at center, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting.
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Press Release | Oct 22, 2007
The Seattle SuperSonics today waived guard Jermaine Jackson.
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Seattle Times | Oct 21, 2007
Houston beat Seattle 117-94 in the Sonics' fifth exhibition game this month but their first at home.
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ESPN | Oct 18, 2007
Seattle's city attorney, Tom Carr, has no doubt about why he wants a judge -- not arbitrators -- deciding whether the SuperSonics must play the next three seasons at KeyArena.
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Houston Chronicle | Oct 18, 2007
Kobe Bryant returned to practice after sitting out the previous three days, and coach Phil Jackson said he expects Kobe to play Thursday tonight.
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Seattle Post-Intelligencer | Oct 18, 2007
While the Sonics appear no closer to cementing a starting lineup for the Oct.
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supersonics.com | Oct 17, 2007
A day after experiencing an irregular heartbeat, Seattle SuperSonics' center Johan Petro returned to practice on Tuesday and was unaffected by the condition.
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Seattle Times | Oct 17, 2007
The first court hearing in the case between the city of Seattle and the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics has been set.
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Beacon-Journal | Oct 15, 2007
Kevin Durant and LeBron James have struck up a relationship and have been talking by phone.
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Seattle Times | Oct 14, 2007
Seattle rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green got their first taste of back-to-back games in the NBA, and their performances turned out to be one of the highlights of the Sonics' 97-87 loss to Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse.
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ESPN | Oct 13, 2007
LeBron James hurt his shoulder against the Sonics, but it is not believed to be serious.
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Seattle PI | Oct 10, 2007
Sonics guard Luke Ridnour broke his nose in the preseason opener and will have to wear a mask for at least the next month.
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Seattle Times | Oct 5, 2007
An avalanche of injuries decimated the Sonics roster and forced P.
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RealGM Staff Report | Oct 4, 2007
The Seattle SuperSonics announced that their NBA Development League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, will be hosting an open player tryout on October 27 and 28 at the Stampede practice facility, the Boys and Girls Club of Garden City.
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Canadian Press | Oct 3, 2007
Kevin Durant appears to be penciled in as the Sonics' shooting guard.
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RealGM Staff Report | Oct 1, 2007
The Seattle SuperSonics have signed free-agent guard Jermaine Jackson.
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Seattle Times | Oct 1, 2007
Two Sonics and Storm season-ticket holders plan to file a lawsuit today, accusing the new team owners of defrauding ticket buyers who believed assurances that they intended to keep the teams in Seattle.
