ESPN reports Schultz adds to his suit against Bennett.
Former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz has added a third claim to a lawsuit that seeks to void the team's 2006 sale to new owners who are planning to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City.
The Starbucks Corp. chairman has amended his federal court lawsuit to allege that Clay Bennett and his Oklahoma-based partners breached their contract with Schultz and other Sonics owners by not making a realistic and full effort to find a new arena in Western Washington before applying to move the team.
And my favorite:
In the amended complaint, Schultz says his Basketball Club of Seattle sold the Sonics to Bennett's Professional Basketball Club LLC only because of a side letter Schultz required as part of the sale.
"Mr. Bennett wrote to Mr. Schultz that 'it is our desire to have the Sonics ... continue their existence in the Greater Seattle Area' and specifically denied any 'intention to move or relocate the team,' " Schultz's latest filing said.
"That statement was false from the moment it was made. ... They were willing to lie, and did lie, to complete the deal."
Schultz argues that Bennett and his co-owners have "intentionally mismanaged the Sonics to improve their case for breaking the lease."