But the Sonics fading future in Seattle took precedence.

"Not good," Stern said when asked how he feels about the NBA potentially losing the Seattle market.

"We've been there for 41-years and it's been a great market. I guess the question should be,'How do the city council and state legislature (of Washington) feel?'

"It's not a fair question on us."

Stern's comments came the same day Oklahoma City voters passed a $120 million temporary sales tax provision that will be used for massive remodeling of the Ford Center downtown with the hopes of luring an NBA team to the city. Yet, according to Stern, the league and the league office is taking unfair blame for Sonics owner Clay Bennett simply protecting an asset "he paid good money for."

"I think it is unfair how it has been shifted back to us," Stern explained.

"They (city council and state legislature) said 'No', and he (Bennett) petitioned to relocate to Oklahoma City. They will likely move whenever their lease (at Key Arena) is over and the court allows them to move. And that is the story.

"Either the court rules the Sonics can move after this season, or they rule they have to stay for two more, in which they will likely move."

While the Sonics relocating to Oklahoma City appears inevitable, so does the criticism Stern has taken over Seattle losing the franchise they love. How does Stern feel about the large target on his back?

"That's what I get paid to do. Maybe I'll put it as the chapter of my book I am not going to write. Suffice it to say, you can expect everyone to start scurrying now that the reality has hit home. 'Get out of here, get out of here, get out of here – we won't help you. Oh, no we didn't mean that.' Words have meaning and we listen for them very carefully."

The question now is, if (and when) the Sonics relocate, does Stern foresee an NBA franchise back in Seattle one day?

"I'm not going to make any predictions or threats. I don't know what else to say."

Just as soon as the "Sonics-moving-to Oklahoma City-talk" subsided, Stern actually had the chance to talk basketball, particularly the trades over the past few months and semi-retired players being involved in such dealings.

"The flurry of trades has been great. You can call it the unpredictability factor and it's at the highest it's ever been. Look at the standings and they are in every locker room. It's starting to be tight time. All those teams thought that one key addition would be their chance to change the unpredictability index to their favor."

But while Stern loved the superstar shuffle of players like Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix and Jason Kidd to Dallas, he did note how the league office may have to review how teams include players who are semi-retired (Keith Van Horn to New Jersey) in the distant future. Are those kind of deals that have also included an assistant coach (Aaron McKie) in a trade this season really fair?

"Our system is what it is," Stern said with a smile. "They discovered the loophole. Let's take one of our 800 lawyers and change it in three years when we can do that. We don't want to spend our time saying, 'Can or can't he play?' That's the way it works.

"It's not perfect. "

Then again, that's not the only league issue needing alterations. With Stern taking slack for the NBA playoff format the past few seasons, Stern did say changing the playoff structure is a discussion that will take place during the offseason.

"We will be considering something. It's a very hard subject. There may be something to be considered. Should it be play cross-conference? I don't understand the implications of that but it may not be crazy, regardless of conference once you get in (into the playoffs).

"There may be an easy answer we just aren't looking at."