I must admit that a last-minute settlement was the last thing I expected in this case after watching the two sides fight it out viciously over the past two weeks. After arguing that there was no monetary value that could be assigned to the intangible worth of the Sonics, Mayor Greg Nickels, Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis and others sold it for a cool $45 million and perhaps $30 more if they don't acquire a team by 2013.

Clay Bennett and the PBC purchased the Sonics for $350 million and was able to wiggle it away from the Sonics for $45 million, less than 13 percent than what they paid for the club. The PBC must be giddy over that transaction, especially since they can recoup those funds for the next two seasons in Oklahoma City.

The thing that shocked me the most about the settlement was Ceis, who seemed to be the team muscle behind the city's effort and had grown into one of the NBA's biggest adversaries, seemed content with a monetary settlement just six days after he said this after the final day of the trial:

"From the very beginning, this case hasn't just been about money. It's about keeping the Sonics to the deal they made back in 1994. It was about assuring that we had a tenant in KeyArena, a very unique tenant, the only tenant that could fit the bill, that's why we remodeled KeyArena. It was about the intangible benefits to the city that Paul described in his closing. So this case has always been for the city more than just about the money. It's about the performance of the team in KeyArena and all the benefits that accrues to the residents of Seattle."

The sad part is that the city of Seattle may not ever get a team back. They got no assurances from the NBA, although it seems many of the league's owners 1) realize how important of the market Seattle is and 2) want Steve Ballmer at their company picnics bringing the potato salad as one of their brethren.

That is a strong case for Seattle, however, the NBA does not want to expand in the United States at this point because the owners have no interest cutting further into their revenue sharing pie. The question for local fans is whether they want to pirate another team that is struggling such as the Memphis Grizzlies.

And even if the city and state combine on a renovated KeyArena, there is no guarantee a team will occupy that venue. Kansas City built the Sprint Center that is waiting for an NBA team and it's discouraging that Mayor Nickels said the renovation will not begin until they receive a new team. Wow. Do you mean to tell me that you think Commissioner David Stern is going to grant Seattle a team with KeyArena at its current state on a promise that the ground will be broken?

The best-case scenario for Seattle is to follow the lead of Charlotte, which made a presentation at the NBA's relocation committee meeting in 2002 outlining a new arena and gained a team five months later. The city of Seattle attempted to secure a more positive relationship with the NBA with their settlement, but the NBA economics have drastically changed from five years ago.

The league had 29 teams then and Stern wanted to make it 30 for he could realign the divisions. The league does not want another team, especially when so many are struggling financially. So the city of Seattle is going to have to play a perfect game to get an NBA team and their decision today may make the city financially richer but robbed their loyal NBA fans.

Well you have all heard the news and it's a sad day in Seattle. I am shock that the City agreed to a deal simply because it could have done this weeks ago and Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said just last Thursday that the trial and the situation was not about money. Let's face it, the NBA is not going to expand to Seattle. The other 30 owners do not want to split the pie one more way to accomodate a 31st team, so the goal now is to focus on a struggling NBA team just as Clay Bennett targeted the Sonics three years ago.

So the NBA is gone for the time being and I am not sure when it's coming back because as the league has said for years, they are not going to promise any city a new team. And what will Kansas City and other cities going to say about Seattle getting the first available team. This sounds like a bunch of empty and shaky promises and it seems the City sold out the city and a great NBA market.

Thanks for the feedback over three years and give me your thoughts on the whole situation.

Point guard Earl Watson broke his right thumb in workouts Tuesday and he could miss three to four months, meaning he should be back by training camp, but it may press Russell Westbrook into immediate duty. Watson will have surgery on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Now the Sonics had a logjam at point guard after drafting Westbrook last week, but the question is whether Watson's injury changes their plans with perhaps dealing him or Like Ridnour this summer. Westbrook has got to play next season, so it's highly unlikely the Sonics break camp with three point guards because the third one probably isn't going to play.

The Sonics desperately tried to get time for Mike Wilks over the past two seasons but couldn't and the club is not going to pay $6.5 million (Ridnour's salary in 2008-09) or $6.2 (Watson) for a third point guard. Watson is a fast healer and it's no shock that he injured the thumb while working out in Los Angeles, probably at UCLA.

Here is the release:

SONICS GUARD EARL WATSON SUFFERS BROKEN THUMB

SEATTLE, Tuesday, July 1, 2008 – Seattle SuperSonics general manager Sam Presti announced today that guard Earl Watson suffered a fracture of the right thumb while preparing for the upcoming season in a basketball game in Los Angeles. The injury has a typical recovery period of three to four months. Watson is scheduled to have surgery on Thursday, July 3 in Los Angeles.

"We are confident Earl will work hard towards a healthy and timely recovery and look forward to getting him back on the court," Presti said.

Last season, Watson averaged career highs in points (10.7), assists (6.8), rebounds (2.9) and minutes (29.1). Over his seven-year NBA career, Watson has averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.5 apg and 2.2 rpg in 529 games.

The irony continues, less than 24 hours before Judge Marsha Pechman announces a decision on the future of the franchise, the Sonics release their summer league roster.

Here it is: College Last team

0 Russell Westbrook G 6-3 190 11/12/88 UCLA UCLA

2 Devin Green F 6-7 210 10/25/82 Hampton Italy

3 D.J. White F 6-9 250 8/31/86 Indiana Indiana

5 Mykal Riley F 6-6 185 7/14/85 Alabama Alabama

8 Ndudi Ebi F 6-9 200 6/18/84 Westbury Christian HS Israel

11 Aaron Bruce G 6-3 185 12/19/84 Baylor Baylor

12 Ronald Dupree F 6-7 210 1/26/81 LSU Sonics/Det/NBDL

22 Jeff Green F 6-9 235 8/28/86 Georgetown Sonics

23 Ronell Taylor G 6-5 200 7/26/82 Alabama-Birmingham Slovenia

30 Justin William F/C 6-10 260 5/12/84 Wyoming Sac/Hou

42 Brian Randle F 6-8 220 2/8/85 Illinois Illinois

44 Nick Lewis F/C 6-10 235 4/20/83 San Diego NBDL

50 DeVon Hardin C 6-11 250 6/3/86 California California

Coaches: Scott Brooks, Ralph Lewis, Mark Bryant, Brian Keefe

The most interesting player on the roster is Ndudi Ebi, who passed up on a scholarship to Arizona to enter the draft and was the 26th pick overall in 2003 by Minnesota. He played 19 games over two years before flaming out. It will be interesting to see whether at age 24 he can contribute to an NBA team.

Here is the Sonics schedule at the Orlando Summer League beginning next week. I know it's difficult to think of summer league during such an anxious period but the Sonics are playing in the same league as Chicago's Derrick Rose and Miami's Michael Beasley, so if some good news arrives Wednesday, there is something to look forward to:

All games take place at Orlando's Practice Court at the RDV Sportsplex and closed to the public. Games feature four 10-minute quarters

2008 SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE
Monday, July 7, 2008

Beginning at Noon (PST)
1st Game Indiana vs. Seattle
2nd Game Chicago vs. Miami
3rd Game Orlando vs New Jersey

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Beginning at Noon (PST)
1st Game Miami vs. New Jersey
2nd Game Seattle vs. Orlando
3rd Game Indiana vs Chicago

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Beginning at Noon (PST)
1st Game Chicago vs Orlando
2nd Game New Jersey vs. Seattle
3rd Game Miami vs. Indiana

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Beginning at Noon (PST)
1st Game Chicago vs. New Jersey
2nd Game Indiana vs. Orlando
3rd Game Miami vs. Seattle

Friday, July 11, 2008

Beginning at 8 a.m. (PST)
1st Game New Jersey vs. Indiana
2nd Game Seattle vs. Chicago
3rd Game Orlando vs. Miami

Game 2 begins 20 minutes after Game 1
Game 3 begins 20 minutes after Game 2

Top Rookies from each team

Chicago: Derrick Rose
Indiana: Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert
New Jersey: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts
Orlando: Courtney Lee
Miami: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers
Seattle: Russell Westbrook, D.J. White, Devon Hardin (second-year forward Jeff Green will also play)

As a Cal guy, it's good to see Bears drafted and the Sonics took Devon Hardin with the 50th pick. Hardin is a defensive-minded, athletic center who will rebound and block shots but he will have an awfully hard time staying out of foul trouble.

Before the Hardin pick, the Sonics sent their 32nd and 46th picks to Detroit for the rights to Indiana forward D.J. White. So the Sonics, who still have one more pick left, likely an international prospect, will enter camp with three rookies and all three should make the team.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

What does it feel like to be in the NBA?

"I'm very excited to be a Sonic and I'm looking forward to next season. I'm very excited. I've been working hard to put myself in the best position possible and I'm very excited."

Did you think you would rise to No. 4?

"I worked so hard over the summer and I tried my best to do well in the workouts as possible and it's paid off and I'm very excited. I felt that I might go four, anything. But you never know with trades and things like that and I was just sitting there waiting for my name to be called and it was called pretty early and I was very happy to hear it."

What's it going to be like to play with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green?

"They are two good guys. I talked to Kevin Durant before the draft and he was real happy for me, congratulating me and things like that. Kevin Durant was the rookie of the year last year and I'm looking forward to getting him shots, getting him open and making him a better player."

Are you a point guard or combo guard?

"I consider myself playing point guard at the next level. I've working this summer. I've been playing point guard all my life and now it's my time to show it to the world at the next level."

What is your weakness?

"I see myself sometimes going too fast at some points, moving too fast and seeing the game so fast. That's one of the things I'd like to improve at, seeing the game slower and slowing down sometimes."

How crazy has been your rise to reserve as a freshman to lottery pick two years later?

"It's been real crazy. Every day I just thank God and I'm blessed every day I thank God and work my tail off every day to try to become the best player I can possibly become. Now it's finally here and I have to start all over again so I've got to do the same thing again."

Do you know Earl Watson?

"I just saw Earl before I left for L.A. and he was congratulating me and he's a real good guy. I know Earl will teach me some things and he was teaching me some things before the year."

Are you aware of the Sonics' potential relocation?

"I feel great, the Sonics are a great organization regardless of where it is. The team is great as well and I know we will do well as an organization and a team next season. I'm aware the Sonics might play in either city and I don't think that's a big issue. A team that has a good chemistry and good organization doesn't have a problem."

Do you own bragging rights over Kevin Love for being drafted first?

"Kevin was my roommate all of last year and he's a great friend and a great teammate and I'm very happy for him and his family and this is what we dreamed of at UCLA and it happened for us both. I'm real happy for Kevin."

What was it like to be drafted?

"I was real excited. I finally got a chance to walk up and shake David Stern's hand, I've been thinking of that all my childhood watching the NBA Draft growing up and now I am here."

Who is with you in New York?

"My mom, dad and little brother. This has been a great experience overall. When I went to work out there (in Seattle), they told me I did a good job."

When did you think you were an NBA prospect?

"I wasn't trying to focus on the NBA or the next level. I tried to focus on our year (at UCLA) and towards the end of the year I thought about it, I felt I was ready make the next step."

The Sonics went overseas for their 24th pick, taking 18-year-old Serge Ibaka from the Congo. He has played a total of 30 professional games but he is supposed to have more skills than Mouhamed Sene. But before you get angry, the Sonics will probably keep Ibaka overseas and take a legitimate big man with the 32nd pick.

After toying with the idea of dropping in the first round, the Sonics took UCLA guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth overall pick on Thursday night. Westbrook was a fast-rising player last season and perhaps the best defensive guard in the draft. Westbrook had splendid workouts for the Sonics and the team needs a franchise-type point guard.

Westbrook could be tutored by former UCLA guard Earl Watson, who is likely the Sonics' starter for next season until Westbrook gets more seasoning. Westbrook, 19, averages 12.7 points and 4.3 assists in 39 games for the Bruins, who advanced to the Final Four.

The Sonics have five picks remaining in the draft and may opt for a big man with their next pick, No. 24. Westbrook averaged just 3.4 points in a reserve role for the Bruins as a freshman but emerged as one of the nation's top defensive guards.

So that leaves Jerryd Bayless, Brook Lopez and Russell Westbrook available for the Sonics, who pick next.