Sonics May Leave Team Name, Colors in Seattle

Sonics chairman Clay Bennett is so eager to sever ties with Seattle that he’s willing to leave the team’s name, logo, colors and history behind to avoid a messy divorce.

During a breakfast meeting for team sponsors Friday at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Southern California, Bennett said he plans to influence the city to accept a buyout. He also told several sponsors that he wants to negotiate a settlement in which the city retains nearly everything associated with the Sonics except the players and coaches.

Sonics spokesman Dan Mahoney confirmed Bennett’s statement on Monday.

"That’s an accurate assessment," he said. He added that the ownership group told the city last month it was willing to leave behind the Sonics name, logo and history. [Seattle Times]