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Clay Bennett believes he should leave the Sonics name behind when he moves his NBA franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City.

But that doesn't mean he will.

Bennett said Friday in New York, where the NBA board of governors approved the Sonics' relocation request, that the fate of the Sonics' name in Seattle would be determined by negotiations as it relates to the franchise's KeyArena lease.

In other words, Bennett would barter the name for early relief from his lease.

"It's going to be a part of whatever discussions we enter into," Bennett said. "We own the name.

"At the end of the day, I believe the name should probably stay. And the history and the marks and the colors should probably stay. That's my personal opinion. But it needs to be part of a broader discussion."

Bennett said keeping the Sonics brand in Seattle makes sense and starting a new identity in Oklahoma City would be beneficial.

"I like the notion of creating our new Oklahoma name or new Oklahoma City name in colors and marks," Bennett said. "I think that's a really exciting opportunity. So that's where I'm thinking, and I hope we can get to that point."

NBA commissioner David Stern said any discussion of the Sonics heritage is "premature" before determination of the Sonics' June court case against the city of Seattle.

"I don't have a preference," Stern said. "I think that my preference would be somehow, in a very difficult situation, have as many happy people as possible."

— By Berry Tramel