Mick Cornett Team Quotations

I've said all along, no way we would be in any competition with Louisiana. If the games can be played there (New Orleans), that's where they should be played. But if they couldn't be played there, I was very interested in trying to be a temporary relocation center for the team. This team is absolutely going back to New Orleans.

In Oklahoma City, we know all about tragedy. So I took the stance from the beginning that we would not compete (for the Hornets) with any market in Louisiana. When I contacted the league, I made it clear that if the team decided not to play in Baton Rouge or New Orleans, only then would we be interested. It's my belief that if this team can, then it should go back to New Orleans. Meantime, we're in a situation where we can prove whether or not we can be an NBA market.

If this team is going to return to Oklahoma City next season, it needs to be because the city of New Orleans is not yet ready. We have not been negotiating for next year, and it wouldn't be appropriate to do so until they determine that they cannot play in New Orleans. And I haven't heard that word yet.