SEATTLE – Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett says he will ask the NBA for permission to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

"Today we notified (NBA) Commissioner (David) Stern that we intend to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City if we succeed in the pending litigation with the City, or are able to negotiate an early lease termination, or at the end of the lease term," said Bennett in a written statement.

"I am disappointed that our efforts over the last fifteen months to foster the development of a new multi-purpose arena in the Greater Seattle area were not successful," said Bennett. "The region is still in need of a modern building, not just for the Sonics and Storm, but also for the broad commercial and quality of life benefits such facilities provide.

"We now understand and respect that there is very limited public support for such a public investment."

But on the same day he made that statement, a group of local investors sent a letter to Bennett, offering to buy the Sonics and the WNBA's Storm.

Seattle businessman Dennis Daugs is representing an ownership group he says is ready to keep the teams in Seattle.

Daugs, a one time minority owner of the team and owner of a Seattle investment management firm, says he's put together a group to buy the franchise and keep them playing at KeyArena. His plans, he claims, are driven more by civic pride than financial gain. 

The arena debate was in many minds at Thursday night's Sonics home opener.  Kevin Durant's 27 points weren't enough as the Sonics lost to the Phoenix Suns and Victoria, B.C. native Steve Nash. 

"In junior high and high school, we used to come down and see some games. Those are great memories and I thought this was a great basketball town," said Nash. 

What was Nash's opinion on the Sonics future? 

"For the Sonics to not be here would be strange," said Nash. 

Daugs also says he'd explore the option of keeping the teams in KeyArena beyond 2010.  At a handful of points in the game Thursday night, the crowd chanted in unison "Save our Sonics" - loud enough that it was picked up by the national broadcast.  

No comment from Bennett on the crowd's comments or Daug's letter.