According to the Seattle Times, the city of Seattle rejected a $26.5 million offer from the Sonics' ownership group to buy out the last two years of the KeyArena lease only last week.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has already said the Sonics' move is inevitable, which has drawn a strong response.

"I accept that inevitability at this point," Stern said. "There is no miracle here."

"If Mr. Stern had any kind of integrity, he wouldn't be trying to hijack this team out of Seattle," Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis reponded. "David Stern hasn't lifted one finger since Clay Bennett bought this team to do anything to try and keep it in Seattle. It's been an ongoing conspiracy between the league and Clay Bennett to hijack this franchise out of Seattle."