Sonics chairman Clay Bennett took the stand at 9:40 this morning. City attorney Paul Lawrence is asking questions about Bennett's background and how he became interested in the Sonics.

An interesting note from that line of questioning is Bennett and his ownership group sought to purchase the New Orleans Hornets before the purchased the Sonics. However, Hornets owner George Shinn would not agree to give Bennett's group a future option to buy a majority share in the team, and Bennett's group moved on.

Lawrence is trying to show that Bennett is a sophisticated investor who has the ability to sustain losses the team has suffered over the last couple of years. He's also using documentation to show that NBA ownership group make money off the team by the team's valuation going up over time, and then selling the team to another group.

Essentially, Lawrence is countering attorneys for the Sonics arguments about the team's economic hardship, and showing the team will actually make their money back and then some once they sell the team.

Bennett seems composed and cooperative on the stand.