The Sonics and their owner Clay Bennett took a gigantic step towards Oklahoma City today when NBA owners approved the team's move by a 28-2 vote. The only two owners who voted against the move were Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen (ironically Allen's Blazers stand to gain the most by owning the entire Pacific NW market if the Sonics move).

The last remaining major hurdle for the Sonics ownership group to clear is the litigation regarding the team's lease with Key Arena. The City of Seattle wants the Sonics to play all of their home games at Key Arena until 2010 when the lease expires. Sonics ownership has offered the City of Seattle $26M to buy its way out of the remaining two years of the lease. There is a court hearing on June 16th to determine whether or not the Sonics will be forced to play their home games at Key Arena or will they be allowed to buy their way out of the lease?

We'll discuss this topic in depth with Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer on this weekend's edition of Sports Business Radio.