Brian Robinson is right in saying that we should not ride the potential Kings sale roller coaster. It has ups, downs, and end where is began. You have gone nowhere and possibly thrown up along the way.
So, how will we know if that roller coaster is actually a train leaving Sacramento for a possible trip to Seattle?
Roller coaster or train, which is it?
At this point, it’s still a roller coaster, and will continue to be one until an actual offer is official. Granted, the specificity of the rumors, and the declarative nature of those writing them, is increasing with each passing day. Still, even the latest from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports declares:
The NBA held a conference call with members of the league’s relocation committee to outline deal points on the proposed sale of majority ownership of the Sacramento Kings to a Seattle-based ownership group, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The call detailed what NBA officials described as “a non-binding set of deal points” on a $525 million sale of majority ownership to the Chris Hansen-Steve Ballmer group, sources said.
Impressive set of “non-binding points set of deal points” you have there Chris and Steve. Has there been a more encouraging and non-committal combination of words related to a basketball franchise that could, maybe, potentially, relocate to Seattle?
That’s a no, and if things don’t work out then the drop on the roller coaster will be sudden and severe, sending some folks screaming like little girls (including my little girl who keeps asking, which is our team, the answer is: none of them yet).
The fact of the matter is that we don’t have a team, not yet. It’s a roller coaster until Chris Hansen engineers an actual deal.
Get Chris Hansen a striped hat, bib overalls, and call him Brakeman Bill all we want, but it’s a roller coaster ride until he actually says different, that the engine leaving the station isn’t thrown off its track, sending it looping back to where it started.
This is what I do know for a fact, there will be a team in Seattle, maybe next season, maybe in three years, but there will. Even the Sacramento fans that are sure the Kings are staying put know that a team will be in Seattle (just not their team, but we’ll see).
I just need a few more facts to know which team, and when, that’s all, and then I’m on that train.
Going to dust off my post from yesterday when this article came out. What’s important to note in this article is that Hansen is NOT paying $525mm for the 65% majority stake. He’d be paying the maloofs based on their percentage of the team at a $525mm valuation So here’s how the math works according to that article:
Maloofs own 53% of the team
Hernreich owns 12%
Other minority owners – 35%
Valuation of team = $525mm
Money owed to city = $70mm
I’m assuming that the debt to the city is share equally between all current owners (meaning the maloofs are on the hook for 53% of the city debt)
That puts Hansen/Balmer paying out the following for the purchase after removing the city’s debt:
Maloofs – $241,150,000
Hernreich – $54,600,000
City – $45,500,000
Total – $341,250,000
It is assumed (by most fans here) that once the Seattle group has controlling interest in the team, they will systematically buy the minority owners out.
What this article really tells me is:
1. This is very real
2. So real that some type of letter of intent or non-binding contract has been drawn
2. So real that the NBA relocation committee has been called in
3. KJ and Sacramento better move super fast because see point 1.
4. Hansen is confident in overcoming any hurdles left in Seattle because see point 1.
I’m getting to the point where I think the roller coaster is in fact turning into a train.
All aboard!
The impressive thing to me is that Hansen has stayed within his cash going out budget.
The question becomes, does the basketball related revenue satisfy his investment (not the value of the other parts)?
It must, or we wouldn’t be here.
I would not be surprised in the least if Hansen already has a handshake deal for broadcast rights. The value local broadcast rights has been skyrocketing lately. The value of the TV deal for the new Sonics will likely be higher than what Hansen is actually paying for the team. Combine that with the expected 30%increase in the national TV deal in a couple years and I imagine Hansen is confident they’ll be profitable.
Good article after what happened with the seahawks i am trying no to be to optimistic until we get the deal done,but it looks like good news has been coming out
http://tinyurl.com/ar8nk6l
Guess my last comment was sent to moderation or something so I will try the tinyurl business.
Hopefully if we are on a train it doesn’t derail like this.
Good word of caution there, BA.
I had a dream last night that I woke up to at least a dozen tweets of “BREAKING NEWS! KINGS FINALIZE SALE WITH HANSEN AND BALLMER.”
First thing I did when I woke up was check twitter. Then I was sad.
Bill Wixey/ Q13 Fox @BillWixey
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Multiple reports say Sacramento Kings sale is close to complete: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/01/15/2435922/kings-reports-multiply.html … #SONICS
Looks like they cobbled together the new Wojo report with Aldridge report and Mayor saying ‘Something is happening’.
So who’s going to make the video of Isaiah Thomas in slow motion set to “I’m Coming Home” by Skylar Grey?
It must be a train if Chris Hansen is Brakeman Bill. Great metaphor Baker.
It’s a train with a very likely destination (Seattle), but with a switch that could be thrown to change direction just before it reaches it.
Not a train, a SuperSonic jet!
But once a train leaves the yard, it’s not easy, almost impossible to turn that train around. One or two switches may change the direction of the train, but in the end, this train is pulling into Seattle down Main 1, into yard track 1, double over to yard track 2, with the balance going to yard track 3. And the power to the roundhouse in service track 2.
Could it be please be a Japanese bullet train?
Supertrain? (Singles)
From nba.com “Its just a matter of when the announcement comes”
http://www.nba.com/2013/news/features/david_aldridge/01/14/morning-tip-kings-relocation-to-seattle-john-wall-early-struggles/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt6e
Sorry dude, we already beat this article into the ground. If fact, it doesn’t really resemble a dead horse anymore…more of a pink pulpy mass
@Ryan_Lillis
Mayor: #NBA Commissioner Stern has given him approval to make counter offer to Hansen group before league board of governors
“him” being Kevin Johnson
Ryan Lillis @Ryan_Lillis
Mayor Johnson: The $525 million floated by Hansen group is “an outrageous number to try to acquire our team.”
Also this one. retweeted by Softy. Not sure how that is outrageous? Must mean that there is no way anyone could conceivably counter offer.
Hope that’s not his pitch to the BOG. Well, I mean, selfishly I do, but for his sake I hope not.
Translation- There is no conceivable way that a team is worth $525m in the Sacramento market.
“floated by Hansen group”
you mean “agreed upon by the Hansen group and the Maloofs?”
While I admire his fight I just can’t generate any love for the Desert Princess.
This really pissed me off that the Kings get so many chances. I guess I shouldn’t be mad but ti just seems that the NBA is on the complete opposite side of things from where we were 5 years ago.
BOG meeting is in April. Is this thing really going to drag out until then? I’m not sure I can take it.
It would have to be a special meeting i suppose as Hansen needs this done or at least working towards completion so he can file for relocation. I don’t think the league would do that to one potential buyer in favor of a maybe scenario. I could be wrong though.
its in feburary
@aaronbruski KJ will not go to the BOG without the goods, and Stern will have a hard time letting a good offer pass. Rejoice Kings fans.
lol Bruski
Sam Amick @sam_amick
Sacto-Seattle cliff notes: Minority owner John Kehriotis part of fight to keep team local;Ron Burkle’s role overstated- http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/01/15/sacramento-kings-seattle-kevin-johnson-wont-give-up/1835341/ …
Well if they got a guy that bring more cash to the table good for them. Won’t be easy.
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
RT @nickmonacelli: @KJ_MayorJohnson says they knew of possible #nbakings Seattle deal in December.
Um… didn’t KJ say in his press conference that he had no idea the team was for sale?
I was thinking the same thing after reading that.
This sounds like playing politics. I am sure the NBA won’t speak about that approval, but seems like more of a move to get people to move on this.
Doesnt’ really matter.
Oh right. He’s a politician, of course he lied.
With a Seattle group working to acquire the Kings, Mayor Kevin Johnson said this morning that he has received approval from NBA Commissioner David Stern to present a counter offer for the Kings directly to the NBA’s board of governors.
Calling a reported $525 million offer for the team that’s being floated by a Seattle group “outrageous,” the mayor said during the annual State of Downtown address that he has developed a strategy to keep the Kings in Sacramento.
Johnson said he is looking for potential owners who would keep the team in Sacramento to bid against the Seattle offer led by hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen. A new arena “must be part of the transaction” and the ownership group must include local partners, Johnson said.
“We want this to be the final act of a saga that’s gone on for far too long,” he said.
The mayor said the Maloof family, who own the Kings, “can participate in some way” in the new local ownership group “if they want to remain a part of this team and this community.”
The names of some potential ownership groups that would keep the Kings here have emerged, including Sleep Train executive Dale Carlsen and Bay Area investor Mark Mastrov, the founder of 24-Hour Fitness who in 2010 made an unsuccessful bid to buy the Golden State Warriors.
Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/city-beat/2013/01/mayor-johnson-will-make-counter-offer-for-kings-directly-to-nba.html#storylink=cpy
http://blogs.sacbee.com/city-beat/2013/01/mayor-johnson-will-make-counter-offer-for-kings-directly-to-nba.html
Apparently a run down of some of the things KJ said. MOstly repeating the tweets.
http://tinyurl.com/accdxkg
A rundown of what KJ said. Other post went into moderation.
key points;
Johnson said he is LOOKING FOR potential owners who would keep the team in Sacramento
A new arena “must be part of the transaction”
The mayor said the Maloof family, who own the Kings, “can participate in some way” in the new local ownership group
interesting comments from that article;
BlindedByScience
Wow, that sounds an awful lot like the Maloofs have told KJ “No.”
Isn’t it the prerogative of a private company to choose their own buyer? I mean, unless they’re bankrupt and assets are sold at auction, that is. I’m talking “normal circumstances.”
NSacRube
Probably Stern is letting him do this as a “save face” favor.
I agree with your assessment the other day the family Maloof has no intentions of letting the team stay in Sacramento.
I liked it better when we were just waiting for the Seahawks season to end for an announcement. This latest round of news is tiring.
Wake me up when it’s March 1st please!
If the statements made by Kevin Johnson at his press conference are true, this is an open fight that won’t be resolved for another few weeks. IMHO, the end result will be no change - the team is moving to Seattle. However, if he has a chance to speak at the BOG meeting, this could get interesting.
Few other random thoughts….
1) His reference to the Hansen/Ballmer offer as “outrageous” is clearly an indicator that no local ownership is going to match an offer at that price, nor will they make a $450m offer and assume a loan. The economics simply don’t pencil out in Sacramento at that price.
2) He made several statements that the Maloof’s could retain a minority share of the team if a local ownership group owned the team. Seems like this is his way of trying to counter the $525m bid by Hansen. He might not be able to match the Hansen bid, but would the Maloof’s accept a lower bid if they could retain a minority share of the team? Who knows, the Maloof’s might realize they are enemy number 1) in Sacramento right now no matter what the result is…
3) the BOG wants a strong ownership group and a $525m purchase increases the value of every other franchise in the league. This will be incredibly difficult for KJ and Sacramento to overcome.
Stern retires next Feb..if if if we get the team next season..does anyone think he shows up at Key?
He’s already said he would let Silver deal with the crowd opening night
I’ve wondered if KJ is somehow able to match the offer Hansen has given, will Hansen then be able to counter the Sacramento offer?
The only people who want a bidding war are the Maloofs
We don’t want a bidding war, but I would feel more comfortable if we get another shot to outbid KJ if he comes up with the funding. The NBA might not mind a bidding war either.
Once again, who is negotiating in public and who is keeping things private?
Once again, if you are negotiating in public are the negotiations likely going well in general?
Once again, can BOG force an owner to sell to someone he doesn’t want to sell to or can they simply reject a sale?
Once again, would BOG be inclined to reject a sale that involves Steve Ballmer and instantly increases the value of EVERY NBA franchise?
KJ is doing an excellent job for his city and his fans by playing the only card he has. To energize them. It’s not an impossible task, but Hansen’s group has a tangible arena deal, has financing IN HAND to buy a team, and is months ahead in the negotiating process.
This seems very strange to me. Why wouldn’t he be presenting his offer to the Maloofs instead of the NBA? If he can beat the Hansen offer, then I would think he would take that to the Maloofs. It seems like he is trying to negotiate with the Maloofs through the press by saying they can still participate in the group and in the community if they go along. Why would he call 525 million outrageous unless he will have trouble matching? Is the strategy to get the BOG to dissallow the move because Hansen-Ballmer are offering too much money?
There is no way the owners would deny a sale based on too high a sale price. They would prefer it. Too be honest they would probably prefer an extra million from a relocation fee as well. Their only concern will be approving a sale and relocation with doubts from the arena. I might even say they would prefer to sell to Seattle even with an equal Sac offer because of revenue sharing being more in their favor if a team is in Seattle with this ownership group. But maybe they are under a different directive.
Every time KJ makes an announcement, he talks about how he’s LOOKING FOR investors. So he STILL doesn’t have an ownership group ready. It sounds like he’s trying a call to arms through the media. If he does that, then he has to get an arena plan. Just because he’s the mayor doesn’t mean he can just push it through. It has to get approved by city and county council. And unless it’s 100% privately financed, it might have to go to a vote. Time is definitely not on his side, here.
I don’t know how legit this is but this Twitter poster is from Sacramento and says
Trevor Adams @Trevor_Adams
@realchriswebber Local news is reporting that the potential Kings deal will be announced Thursday man. Figured that you’d be interested.
The deal with Hansen/Ballmer?
I haven’t been able to find anymore info on it. I’m looking though.
Don’t know who this guy is or what local report he is looking at, but it’s not in SacBee. If it’s a Thursday announcement of a deal, it couldn’t be between Sacramento and the Maloofs, since we now know KJ is making any ownership proposal directly to BOG.
That guy is from Nova Scotia.
Trevor Adams
@Trevor_Adams
Sports, cinema, music & history junkie. Advanced level of Wing Chun. Self educated workaholic. Click the link in my profile here & there. It changes at times.
Sacramento, CA
Sure looks like it’s going to be a long 6 & a half weeks! Weeeeeee!
That 6 and a half weeks is the timeframe KJ keeps saying. That’s self-serving on his part (and smart) because it gives him longer to get his group together.
I have heard that the Hansen/Ballmer group has not given the NBA 6 weeks to give their deal an answer… More like end of this month… So KJ can talk all he wants about March 1, but the real deadline is Feb. 1. Will the NBA pass on the Hansen offer in order to give Sactown more time to potentially screw up the deal again?
If I remember correctly, Clay would owe Seattle $30 million if a team is provided within 5 years (starting from June 2008). Is this aggreement still in effect? If so, how much of a factor would this be in the dicussions within the NBA’s Relocation committee?
No, that was contingent on a remodel of Key Arena being approved within 3 years I think and then not getting a team by then. That ship sailed long ago.
I just re-watched Sonicsgate last night. The deal was contigent on the inept group known as the Seattle City Council approving financing for a new arena (or Key upgrade) by the end of 2009. They refused to even discuss it, despite Ballmer offering up $150m and the fact that they would have received another $30m from Clay. They basically threw $180 million out the window.
Gotta salute Kevin Johnson. He is at a huge disadvantage here but he refuses to throw in the towel. If only Nickels had fought so hard for our team!
The difference is that our team had already been sold.
no doubt.
A write up on the Kings/Seattle situation from the Guardian newspaper out of London
http://bit.ly/RXvJ2T
There are divergent realities at work between here and the Kings’ sites. One side says the move to Seattle is, if not inevitable, then very close to a sure thing. The other side says resources are being brought together and the team will stay. It’s like Anita Hill v. Clarence Thomas all over again.
As a Sonics fan, I admit I’ll feel a lot worse about this whole thing if actual credible buyers were lined up in Sacramento and the team ended up in Seattle anyway. I’ll buy jerseys, I’ll go to games, but the rationalization will be more taxing.
I would not spend one minute of my life feeling bad about this. Sympathetic? Yes. But not bad.
Agree with Paul 100%…
Agreed
The only side that is saying they are going to stay is Sacramento, everywhere else its Seattle.
I’ll feel bad for about half a second, and then it will be full blown NBA mode for me. Seriously, we don’t control any of those factors.
And up and down we go on the rollercoaster….:lol:
I think people need to stay calm and take a step back. We can’t do anything about that right now and will have to live with all those “news” coming out about every 20 minutes.
Anyways, some important points from today to me are:
1) It doesn’t looks like KJ’s got a group formed yet, as time is running out for them.
2) He calls the Hansen/Ballmer offer outrages, which seems to indicate that he knows that’ll be very tough for him to counter that.
3) He says the Maloofs can keep some percentages of the franchise. = He wants to lower the asking price.
Though, are the Maloofs are even interested anymore after being called out by Johnson?
I mean, his tactics are clear and everyone can see that he’s trying to put all the blame(and nearly 100% rightfully so) on them.
Anyways, should be an interesting time till at least the BOG meeting during the All-Star game.
The offer is outrageous because KJ can’t make it up. Supply and Demand, I would think a mayor would understand.
You know what? It IS an outrageous offer. One more reason to LOVE Chris Hansen.
My heart is torn between Russell Wilson and Chris Hansen. Which should I choose? My wife is very concerned about my conflicting man crushes.
She’s all like “It’s either me and Chris Hansen or me and Russell Wilson. I won’t share you with BOTH of them”.
Just keep two important factors in mind here.
1. KJ is going to negotiate directly with BOG, which has nothing to sell to him.
2. KJ thinks the bid he is negotiating against is outrageous.
It is outrageous. $225 mm overpayment.
an open letter to Sacramento Kings fans from Sonicsgate;
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/47565/an-open-letter-to-sacramento-kings-fans-from-the-producers-of-sonicsgate
That was a great letter.
Great and accurate letter.
And futile. NOTHING we say will matter to them.
True enough that’s why I think its better just to leave the Sac folks alone.
agreed
I don’t like this open letter.
I agree with the points of the letter, but really why
1) Rehash the whole Sonicsgate saga
2) Tell / recommend a fanbase what the best thing to do is when we are not in their shoes. The situations are similar to a point then takes divergent paths.
I would have preferred if they kept this letter to themselves.
http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/Sacramento-mayor-to-present-counteroffer-for-Kings-186984201.html
Kj is gonna speak at the BOG meeting. Good luck to him trying to convince 29 owners as to why they should accept a lower offer.
Wouldn’t the BOG rejecting a higher offer and trying to force the Maloofs to sell locally just ooze with anti-trust?
Yes there are potential legal issues involved. It would be different if there were multiple cities involved in wanting the team.
But the NBA can’t decide who the Maloofs sell to or even for how much. Even if Sacramento can outbid Seattle, if the Maloofs want to sell to Hansen, the NBA can’t stop them. I’m pretty sure the only real reason the BOG can block a sale is if there’s some kind of scandal or uncertainty revolving around the potential buyer’s finances. When you have Steve Ballmer on your side, that’s not going to be a problem.
Are the Maloofs really going to consider leaving tens of millions on the table for a minority share of KJ’s new ownership group? I doubt it. I really doubt it.
I think this business of letting KJ present directly to BOG is David Stern, and I can’t BELIEVE I’m saying this, being polite.
If we get to the point where Hansen and the Maloofs are presenting a formal deal to BOG, I see no way BOG rejects it. If Sacramento buyers could match or exceed Hansen’s offer, they will have done it BEFORE that meeting even takes place.
In other words, if they can’t sway the Maloofs to sell to them instead of Hansen, I see no way the NBA intervenes.
Basically what I said above. If Hansen, et al, agree to a deal with the Maloofs and the NBA blocks it simply because they want to keep the team in Sacramento, they could have a major lawsuit on their hands.
The NBA won’t intervene, because the owners want the ability to move teams.
What you are seeing is the rare situation where you have a well respected former NBA player at the top of the political scene in Sacramento. He has built up political capital with NBA and Stern likely feels the NBA owes KJ the opportunity to state his case. Can’t say I disagree with him on that… But I agree with all other comments. KJ isn’t going to somehow get the NBA to forece the Maloof’s to sell the franchise to a local owner if the price is less than the $525m offered by Hansen. No chance.
I got really worried when I first read those tweets, but after thinking about it some and talking with you guys, I’ve backed off the cliff. I’m going to go back to “cautiously optimistic” mode.
IMO what KJ is hoping for is to have a local ownership group who offers slightly less than Hanson, have an arena deal in place and hopes that the BOG tells Hanson and Maloof that they can complete the sale, but we will not approve a move to Seattle because there’s a viable arena option in Sacramento.
The NBA can’t force the Maloofs to sell to someone they don’t want to, but they can convince the buyer that the option to move is not on the table.
Like how we had a viable option in Seattle?
We didn’t have a viable option for the simple fact that a portion of the money to remodel the Key needed to come from the hotel/motel tax and the City had to ask the State to authorize the City to use that money which was never going to happen.
Also, in our situation the team was already sold to Bennett so the BOG could not use rejecting a move to persuade the owner to accept one offer over the other.
That won’t happen John_S. NBA approving the sale to hansen only to say no for relocation will not happen.
I view KJ’s comments today as the clearest indication so far that the Maloofs and Hansen have agreed to a deal. KJ wouldnt need to counter an offer with the BOG unless it there was one already accepted. It bodes well for us that there at teh stage of making a plea with the league rather trying to purchase the team from the current owners.
Hasn’t KJ now essentially confirmed that the Maloofs and Hansen have an agreement?
The only way the NBA could force the Maloofs to accept another offer, should they prefer ours, would be to grant us an expansion team and take the option off the table.
None of us really know what. Remember, this is the NBA and David Stern does as David Stern wants. If Stern wants the team in Sacramento, he can force the Maloof’s hand, assuming the economics of both offers are the same. I don’t think it will happen, and I agree the likely outcome would be an expansion team, but it is possible for the deal could be blocked.
Also, I’d be curious to see what the support is amongst the NBA owners for an expansion franchise. Mark Cuban, one of two owners to vote “no” on moving the Sonics to OKC has already unequivocally stated that he will not support expansion in Seattle. I’d be curious whether he is in the majority of those with that position. Perhaps Hansen could make an expansion offer that overcomes the loss of future revenue from the League’s TV deal. Slicing the league’s TV deal amongst 31 teams vs. 30 teams would not be a popular move amongst NBA owners, unless the upfront cut they get is large enough to offset the loss in future revenue.
To clarify, Cuban is flatly not in support of leage expansion, regardless of location. This is not a location specific viewpoint.
NBA can’t force the maloofs to anything they don’t want to do. Only way for kings to stay is that NBA guarantees in writing that an expansion happens for Seattle and hansen withdrawals his offer.
Do you think that rate the Hansen’s offer as “outrageous” is a good way to convince another investors to match this offer?
I think kevin johnson does this to gain popularity. Just this.
I mean… he’s right. But market dictates value.
Obviously he’s right, but he’s not going to convince many investors with that speech.
KJ is doing his due dilligence as a mayor, ex nba player, and a fan. Cant fault him at all.
Never give up, never surrender.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fdcIwHKd_s
Just read the open letter to Kings fans from the Sonicsgate guys. It was a great letter, from the heart. I appreciate the Sonicsgate guys and everything they’ve done.
That said…
We have to stop addressing Sacaramento fans. No good can come of it. They don’t want to hear a Sonics fan say a word. Not a word. And the great irony is that nobody should understand that better than we do.
So every time you think about directing something at a Kings fan on a website, the comments section of an article, in person…no matter how empathetic, no matter how compassionate…DON’T DO IT. It will not turn out well.
Our therapists will tell us all that the reason we are reaching out to Kings fans is not to comfort them in any way. We are seeking absolution. We are seeking forgiveness for cheering this process onward.
Look, I’m as excited as anybody, believe that. I’ll let any Sonics fan know that.
But all my feelings of guilt, sadness, compassion regarding Sacto fans…those go to my therapist (i.e., my wife).
I agree. It is also insensitive to tell Sacramento fans that “we’ve been there before so we understand.” Sacramento has one team, and only one team. We lost the Sonics but most of us had the Seahawks and Mariners and soonafter the Sounders to grieve with. Regardless of whether most of us like the other three sports, at least we had them as an option. Sacramento has nothing if the Kings leave. Tough pill to swallow for those fans.
Spot on, Numbers…but here’s the problem:
When anyone told/tells me that I shouldn’t sweat the Sonics because there are other teams to chear for, I go kookoo and want to keelhaul somebody!! DON’T DEVALUE MY SUPES!
Both Sonics and Kings fans have SO much baggage right now. We both are the guy on the corner of 3rd and Pike totally screaming at himself.
Just walk on by that guy, kids. Don’t hate him…but just walk on by.
Sure they do. They have the Warriors, the Niners, the A’s, the Raiders and the Sharks. That’s how we roll in Eastern WA. We have no team..we root for the closest ones in Seattle.
Couldn’t agree more. I didn’t want to hear a word from OKC fans 5 years ago. And I’m sure the same is true for Sacramento fans. I understand the whole “Don’t stop fighting” narrative that the article led with. But nobody wants to be consoled by the guy who their ex ended up with.
Aaron Bruski @aaronbruski
KJ will not go to the BOG without the goods, and Stern will have a hard time letting a good offer pass. Rejoice Kings fans.
A good offer? Ha!
So Stern will tell the NBA that they can’t accept Hansen offer and must go with KJ’s offer?
Exactly. I don’t get why he’s going to the BOG. They can’t sell a team they don’t own. It’s like if you owned a Subway franchise and I wanted to buy it from you but you wouldn’t sell it to me so I went and told Subway corporate about how good my offer was to you. They’d look at me and say “if he doesn’t want to sell, he doesn’t want to sell. Tough luck.” Maybe they’d grant me a new franchise, maybe they’d tell me to get out of their office.
It’s not that clear cut. The NBA has say in franchise relocations and ownership decisions, similar to other professional leagues. For example, Mark Cuban tried multiple times to purchase an MLB team but was unsuccessful every time, primarily because other MLB owners and Bud Selig wanted no part of Mark Cuban owning a team. Likewise, the NBA has effectively blocked the Maloof’s from moving a team to the Anaheim.
You’re talking about a high stakes game. The NBA has to toe a line between forcing owners to do things, and being slapped with an anti-trust lawsuit for over stepping its bounds. Make no mistake, the NBA is not a free market system and never will. If Stern and Co want a team to stay in Sacramento they have a number of ways they could use the back channels to do so. Not likely to happen IMHO but don’t underestimate what Stern could do.
Umm they can not force maloofs to sell locally if they don’t want to.
Hansen and Balmer can sue the league for anti-trust if the NBA rejects their deal only to force the maloofs to sell locally.
MLB is i believe anti trust exempt but NBA isn’t
They could use back channels to make moving difficult…. Either way, Hansen has gone about the whole process in an extremely professional manner. Frankly, I believe that if Sacramento matches the Hansen offer, they should be allowed to say in Sacramento. I just don’t think this is likely as the economics don’t seem to pencil out. However, if Hansen stepped aside and allowed a local buyer to match his offer and keep Kings in Sacramento, the amount of political capital Hansen will have built up would make an expansion team even more likely.
Doesn’t matter if local group matches offer. If the maloofs don’t want to sell the team to a local group then it doesn’t matter what the local group offers.
NBA is not going to approve the sale to Hansen only to block the relocation.
KJ is negotiating for the team with the NBA not the maloofs. NBA doesn’t own the team.
Stern has no authority over what BOG does. Its huge benefit for the league to have hansen & balmer as owners.
BS lol.
~lifts head off desk~
“Is in March 1st yet?”
“Nope!”
~face hits desk~
From our buddy Bruski; http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/15/sacramento-mayor-kevin-johnson-lays-out-framework-for-kings-to-stay-put/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
On what grounds can the city sue the NBA? That is a ridiculous statement.
What is Bruski’s background? Is he a Sacramento guy? I’ve never seen such an in-the-tank sports reporter. He is obviously getting fed talking points by Sacto folks. Who is he?
Person from California but is pro Sac kings.
He works for NBC. That’s all I really know but literally EVERY post of his on PBT is about the Kings.
In the Mid 90′s the Minn Timberwolves tried to move to New Orleans but the NBA put the deal on hold to see if Local investers could be found
Wasn’t the league in a better shape back then compare to now.
Kings are selling the team though the NBA can’t dictate who the maloofs sell the team to.
Not entirely correct. They put the deal on hold because the owner at the time ended up not having any money.
Wow I must have missed when the over-reaction circus came back to town. Well that is what the internet gets for leaving gaps in the story.
No kidding
Ryan Lillis @Ryan_Lillis
Mayor Johnson: ‘I hope Seattle gets another team, they deserve another team, they didn’t deserve to lose their team in the first place.’
Ryan Lillis @Ryan_Lillis
Mayor Johnson (Con’t): “It just won’t be the Sacramento Kings if we have anything to do with it.”
okay KJ where is the offer that will beat Hansen’s price at 525m the one that you said was outrageous.
Oh you are going to only offer something that is much less than 525 and think the NBA will reject the higher offer and go with yours? Sorry not going to happen.
It sounds like he’s going to try and convince the league to grant us an expansion team, leaving the Maloofs with no choice but to sell locally.
Good luck with that.
Expansion divide the pie 31 times and any money gained by expansion would be negated. So it doesn’t do the league any good at this time to be offering expansion.
Too add why would the BOGs agree to lose money? That essentially what they would be doing by allowing Seattle expansion.
I’m not lying when I say that part of me wouldn’t mind seeing the Kings stay. The fans there really love their team and it’s all they have. It’s not like us that still had the Hawks, M’s, Sounders, and UW football and basketball. This whole thing just really sucks. I’ll be as giddy as anyone about the Supes returning. But if KJ and the folks in Sacramento are able to save their team, good for them. I’ll be disappointed that we’ll have to wait a bit longer for our team to come back. But will also feel good for the Kings fans.
All that said, it’s not looking good for Sacramento right now. KJ calling the offer outrageous can’t be a good sign. For one, it screams that he won’t be able to match the offer. And Secondly, the NBA can’t like it at all. If the Sacramento Kings can sell for $525 million, just what do you think that does to the value of teams across the country? The league owners won’t like hearing someone say that the value of their franchises should be capped.
Wait KJ actually said that the value of the franchises should be capped?
No. He didn’t. But calling the offer outrageous insinuates as much.
Okay thanks wasn’t sure what you meant by that.
I thought $450m for the Warriors was outrageous.
Sports franchises values are always going up. And exponentially now days given the increased value and money making potential of regional sports networks.
“LeBron about to become youngest to score 20,000″
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/lebron-become-youngest-score-20-160657244-nba.html
“Classic Photos of the Seattle SuperSonics”
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1206/seattle.supersonics.classic.photos/content.1.html
KIRO 7 @KIRO7Seattle
Seattle City Councilmember @bruceharrell has announced that he is running for mayor of Seattle.
That actually seems to be real, not a rumor, not a nonsense conjecture. Well done!
hmm am i wrong to think that may split the vote among pro sport fans between burgess and Harrell
Possibly. But it can’t hurt to have more options besides Peter Steinbrueck.
Exactly. The more the better. McGinn has my vote simply because of his effors to bring a team back. That being said, a “top two” primary will be held in August. It is very important that Peter Steinbruck be one of those two individuals moving forward to the general election.
Why would we want him in the general election?
If the crux of KJ’s argument to the BOG is that the value of NBA franchises should be capped, the Kings are done in Sacto right there.
The scariest thing for me at this point is that the ball is still in the Maloof’s court. It is ultimately up to them who they sell to. Their track record proves it doesnt have to make any sense at all.
We assume that this new group has to outbid Hansen. I dont think thats a safe assumption. The Hornets sold for less to the NBA to stay in the market. Supposedly so did the Sonics at the time.
As much as the Maloofs have run that franchise into the ground. They know what they are doing to the fans. These guys are not as broke as we make them out to be. If its close……. then sentimentality and empathy could swing them to sell local. Nobody wants to go out as the owners that sold out the city.
Hansen and the Maloofs have been in talks for a while. He has gotten them up to $525 mm. Local buyers have also been in talks with them. TBD how high they are willing to go.
Local buyers have?
Yes. They have had offers from local buyers before.
Agreed. The Maloofs are the biggest possible wild cards. They celebrated with KJ at mid-court! They had an agreement. Never say never say anything with those guys involved.
If they backed out at the last minute and said they wanted to look at other options or stay the owners It wouldn’t be a shock. It wouldnt make sense……..but it wouldnt shock me.
Maloofs are f*cking crazy, but they need to sell more than we need to buy, and there’s a great difference between the offers from Sacramento and Seattle.
NBA owned the hornets though and they wanted to keep the team in NO
Shinn took less money from the NBA to keep them local.
I don’t wish to talk ill of any fans. But if there was a city that deserves a team less than Seattle and Sacramento, New Orleans is definitely on the list. That was the team that should’ve moved, if any.
Kings’ fans’ response to the Sonicsgate letter; http://goo.gl/ldIW8
As I said above. I hope they are successful in keeping them. Good for them to reply as such. I just hope if they aren’t able, that they come here instead of Anaheim.
It was cool that Adam wrote that, and I’m sure he meant it from the heart, but there’s nothing anyone can say, well-meaning or not, that doesn’t come across like pouring lemon juice in the wound. Best to say nothing at all, IMO.
Agreed. Only thing worth saying is the part about not giving up the fight. And that would include NOW.
Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
Joining @NBCSportsTalk in studio on @NBCSN at 6 PM ET to report on the latest in the NBA. DirecTV Ch. 220.
anything new?
No unfortunately he mainly just talked about which NBA players were on the trading block, nothing about the Kings/Seattle. It seemed like a rushed segment though. As it seems like they wanted to talk more about Douche bag Harbaugh and his brother more then anything.
Would the supposed local group offer the Maloofs a piece of the team in order to offset the lower offer?
KJ said they could be involved
Hey guys. I know this is the new site and SonicsCentral no more. But is it possible to change the “In awe of James Harden” header over at SC? I ask because when I Google search ‘Seattle Sonics’, the 2nd result I get is about James Harden and it just looks silly.
Yes, I’ll post a “we’ve moved” sign
Will be interesting to see how this turns out. A team in Sacramento selling for $525 million would make a team in Atlanta worth even more. It’d make the Lakers and the Clippers worth in the $800 million dollar range.
So, if the BOG decides to take a lower offer they are effectively saying that they would rather the team stay there then put money in their own pockets (at some point down the line)…if that happens…you kind of have to throw your hands up and say “Hansen did the best he could in this situation”