New Orleans, LA (My Sportsbook) - NBA Commissioner David Stern's annual "State of the League" address painted a grim picture of the Seattle SuperSonics' future in their current home.

According to a report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Stern termed the Sonics' proposed relocation to Oklahoma City an "inevitability", and went on to reveal that the current ownership group, headed by Clay Bennett, has attempted to buy out the final two years of their lease and pay off the remaining bond debt at KeyArena.

Bennett, a native of Oklahoma City, intends to move the franchise to his hometown at the end of the current season, but the city of Seattle has filed a lawsuit against the team in an attempt to hold the Sonics to the terms of the lease.

Both Bennett and the previous owner, Howard Schultz, have stated their intentions to move the franchise if the city did not provide public funding for a new arena.

According to the report in the Post-Intelligencer, Stern said that he requested Bennett approach city officials with the rejected buyout proposal, and that it was clear the Sonics were not going to receive public funds for a new home in Seattle.

The two sides have a June 16 court date to determine if the Sonics will be held to the remaining two years of the lease, or be allowed to relocate.