I had a chance to talk with Seattle deputy mayor Tim Ceis about Schultz filing, along with a couple other things, and here’s what Ceis had to say.

REACTION ON SCHULTZ FILING THE LAWSUIT

“I definitely think he’s working in concert with what we’re doing. Having Howard back on the team working with us is great. We’re very appreciative of what he’s doing and how he’s asserting his right under the sales agreement with the Sonics. So yeah, we’re very enthusiastic of his strategy.

“You know Howard Schultz. He wouldn’t be in this thing unless he thought he could win.”

REACTION ON NBA OWNERS VOTING TO APPROVE THE SONICS RELOCATION LAST FRIDAY

“The decision of the board of governors was a foregone conclusion. It did not change our strategy at all. We have always been focus on the litigation in June. We’ve always felt that is what gives us leverage to get a good result from Bennett and the NBA for the people of the city and the region. We don’t think that changed anything at all.”

Ceis also said he found Bennett’s response amusing that his words were misconstrued regarding the emails cited in the city’s filing to seek release of financial records from the NBA. During the press conference last Friday Bennett said regarding his email that he was a “A man possessed" in working to get an arena deal done Seattle, not Oklahoma City.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ARENA PROPOSAL IN SEATTLE

“A financial plan for the arena has always been critical. I don’t think it will have a material affect on the lawsuit. It’s not part of our strategy, but it’s certainly has an affect on our ability to get a positive outcome on having a franchise in the future. There’s no doubt about that.”

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JUNE 16TH LAWSUIT

“That gives us leverage to get an outcome for the region that has an NBA franchise here. If we just allow the team to go, there’s absolutely no guarantee that we’ll see a franchise in this area ever again.”

ON RON SIMS AND PETE VON REICHBAUER’S COMMENTS THAT THE CITY SHOULD GIVE UP THE LAWSUIT AND TAKE A BUYOUT FROM THE SONICS

“Neither one of them are close to the situation. So I appreciate their view, but this is about enforcing a lease and the rights of the taxpayers we represent, and we have an obligation to do that. If there is going to be a positive outcome to this, and we’re hopeful there will be, we’re all ears. Until we hear something from the NBA that changes our mind, we are headed toward that court date.”