A big blow has been dealt to the fans who want to see the Seattle Supersonics stay in the Pacific Northwest. As NBA Commissioner David Stern told us this past weekend on SBR, there are still several "hurdles" that need to be overcome if the team is to find a sufficient deal to remain in Washington. Well, let's just say a brick wall has been put up in front of the efforts to keep the Sonics in Washington state.

Remember, every single one of the Sonics owners is from Oklahoma City. And its no coincidence that Oklahoma City is now looking for an NBA team again as the New Orleans Hornets are returning to New Orleans for a full 41-game home schedule next season.

According to the Seattle Times, Washington state lawmakers will not vote on public funding for a proposed $500M arena in Renton before the Legislature adjourns this week. If you recall, Bennett and his group were asking for $300M of the $500M needed for the arena from the public. You may also recall that the public said "no thanks" to former Sonics owner Howard Schultz before he sold the club and Schultz was only asking for a measley $200M.

Sonics and WNBA Storm Owner Clay Bennett said the teams now have “little hope" of remaining in the Puget Sound region. Legislative leaders said that there was not enough support for the proposal. Bennett said in a written statement, “By its inaction the Legislature has delivered the message that they are indifferent to the notion of the Sonics and the Storm leaving the market”.

Bennett and his group have given themselves a self imposed deadline of October 31st of this year to come up with a solution that makes financial sense for them to keep the Supersonics in the Pacific Northwest. Sounds like they may not need that much time to reach their decision.

As I've said for months now, the only way I see the Sonics remaining in Washington is if Bennett and company find private investors who will help him fund the $500M arena they are seeking. Washington state has a ton of wealth, so its not completely unrealistic to think that some of the people with Microsoft money and others may chip in for the arena costs. Its not very likely though.

I'm still standing by my predicition that the Supersonics will be playing in Oklahoma City in the not too distant future....and that Washington state will be without an NBA team for the first time since 1967.