Some responses from Sonics chairman Clay Bennett culled from the new conference this afternoon.

ON WHAT SEATTLE MUST DO FOR THE NBA TO STAY:

“It’s my opinion that until such time that there is a unified, visionary committed business and political leadership focused on this issue, it’s going to be very tough. Seattle is a great city, with great fans. There is a great history. Seattle should potentially be a future opportunity for the league. But a modern building must be built to attract a team.”

ON WHAT WENT WRONG INITIALLY WITH HIS DEALING WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE:

“I think about that a lot. And when I go back I recall my first meetings and we were not engaged, we were not connected. Right on the heels of our purchase I-91 comes down the pike. And that was certainly as strong as a political statement relative, as it is a statement and view on public financing clearly meant to affect our process.

“So it was just almost one struggle after another. In that context I think back to Margarita Prentice and Eric Pettigrew, courageous people that did believe in us and tried to help us. And other local leaders that did try to engage with us. We felt at certain times we did have some credible movement, but we were just challenged every step of the way.”

[More:]

IF CITY DOES WIN THE COURT CASE AND YOU HAVE TO STAY ANOTHER YEAR, HOW DO YOU MARKET THE SONICS WHEN FANS KNOW YOU’RE LEAVING?

“We’re going to have to learn how to do that. Fortunately the league’s full gifted executives experienced in how to sell and how to market. We’ll rely on them in a big way. We’ll look to certain, local strategies. What I’ll be focused on is making sure our players, coaches and staff, try to make sure they have the best experience they can have. To the fan I would suggest come see this great game, and come see these great players, and enjoy each and every game you can.”

ON THE TEAM’S RELOCATION

“As difficult as this is for Seattle – and I know it is, as a sports fan it’s very difficult, and I appreciate the history and the fans and the people connected – but decisions have been made, and the path is clear as to what is going to take play in the next two years. And let’s find a way to dial it down and do get something productive going.”

ON MOVING THE TEAM TO HIS HOMETOWN

I’m very happy about it. But I must say that I have mixed emotions. I view this on one end as certainly No. 1, as challenging of personal and business experience that I ever have been a part of. It was very complex, very complicated and very dynamic and ever changing.

“So on one hand I feel personal disappointment relative to my ability to affect the building of a building. In that I was convinced we could get it done. But then we have to move on.”

HOW MUCH MORE ARE YOU WILLING TO OFFER TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE:

“Step 1 is I am hopeful that we can reestablish communications and some kind of platform that we can have a meaningful, principled conversation. And we’re certainly no where near that today. But I am very much open to that and would welcome that.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GENUINELY NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN TO NOT RELOCATE:

There’s no question about it. I think about it all the time. We could not engender the leadership of the marketplace to support the development of a building.

ON THE EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED:

I feel very bad about the misrepresentation of that particular e-mail, and the fact that it’s been misconstrued and utilized in such a fashion. Because I clearly recall that email exchange. That email exchange first took place when I learned that our bill had died in committee (in Olympia). And there would be no public financing forthcoming relative to our proposition.

“And my absolute feeling in that email is I am a man possessed. I am only beginning. I’m going to do everything that I can to get this done in Seattle. And there’s been an enormous misunderstanding of that and misrepresentation of that, or it’s been misconstrued. I’m not sure which, but I am speaking about my commitment to a process in Seattle.

ON HOWARD SCHULTZ SUING BENNETT’S GROUP FOR BREECH OF CONTRACT:

“I operated in good faith, and that will be vetted through the trial and will be clear. And further I was disappointed because I’ve had a nice relationship with Howard. I spoke to him about this issue and I made a commitment to him personally as well and indicated that it was meaningful to me. And I held to that commitment.”