With only 10 players available, the Sonics understandably struggled against one of the best teams in the league in the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night.

The team will have its first practice today with new guys Ira Newble, Adrian Griffin and Donyell Marshall, and hopefully iron out a few kinks before traveling to Oakland to take on Golden State on Tuesday.

Here’s an interesting overview of some of the players involved in the KeyArena dispute, and what roles they will play in working to keep the team here.

A story in The Daily Oklahoman says the Ford Center in Oklahoma City has not reserved dates for the Sonics next season. However, arena officials say they could adjust the schedule if the Sonics win the court case in June or reach a buyout with the City of Seattle.

Here’s an excerpt:

A crammed Ford Center schedule, however, doesn't mean the Oklahoma-owned Sonics couldn't play here next season.

If the team wins its federal court case in June or reaches a settlement with the City of Seattle and relocates in time for the 2008-09 season, Ford Center and Oklahoma City officials likely will have to rearrange the arena's schedule much like they did when the Hornets relocated here in September 2005.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it,” said Ford Center general manager Gary Desjardins. "That would be a pleasant problem to have. We were able to do it when the Hornets were here, and that was much more difficult to do because with the Hornets we were much closer to the season.”
Desjardins said he isn't holding dates for the Sonics because he can't turn down business while anticipating a relocation that might not occur.

"We don't know what's going to happen,” Desjardins said. "We still have to conduct business. If the Sonics come, certainly we'll end up having to make some changes. But right now we still have an obligation to book the building and schedule events.

Read the full article here.