Tim Whitmire of the Charlotte Observer reports: City Manager Pam Syfert says a top NBA executive has told the city not to bother rewriting an arena deal to remove a requirement for new owners if the Charlotte Hornets are to play there.

In a memo sent Wednesday to City Council members, Syfert said she and Mayor Pat McCrory held separate conversations with NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik about the $231 million arena deal approved 8-3 by the council Feb. 11.

After that vote, Granik said the city's declaration it would only build an arena for new owners could alienate NBA owners, who will vote whether to approve the Hornets' application to move to New Orleans.

That caused City Council member Lynn Wheeler to say she would lead an effort to remove the clause -- but she first would like the city to hear directly from the NBA about its concerns.

That prompted Syfert to contact Granik and describe to him exactly what was passed by the council Feb. 11.

In her memo, Syfert wrote: "Granik's response can be summarized as follows: It is unfortunate that the ownership clause is included ... but it is not something to spend energy on removing."

She wrote that she and Granik "agreed to keep in touch as events unfold."

Through a spokesman, Granik declined Wednesday to elaborate on his conversations with city officials.

NBA owners are expected to vote in early April on the Hornets' relocation application. The move will go forward if a majority of teams approves.

Based on her conversation with Granik, Syfert recommended the council "not take any action at either the Feb. 25 or March 4 meeting to remove that clause."

Charlotte business leaders, who have agreed to front $100 million to build the arena, have said they expect to assemble an ownership group to make an offer to buy the Hornets from the unpopular George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge.

NBA sources have said that if Charlotte is to keep the team, the league expects an offer for the team of more than $200 million and an outline of how a lease would make the Hornets profitable at the proposed uptown arena.