by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports
Published: 01/09/2025 06:23pm
The Seattle group led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft chairman Steve Ballmer has made significant progress in negotiations to buy the Sacramento Kings and is confident a deal will eventually get done, according to a person who was briefed on the status of the negotiations.
The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks between the Hansen-Ballmer group and the Maloof family that owns the team. If the deal is completed, the Maloofs – who have a history of backing out of deals that appeared to be done before - may retain a small percentage of ownership and the team would be called the Sonics.This deal is not done, however, and there are no immediate indications of a timeline for possible completion.
Read the full story here!
Is that article in Eastern Time zone?
Yes.
Apparently the Maloofs owe the NBA somewhere between $150-219 million? Mind you this is from Steve Large who apparently gave that bogus tweet about a deal being rejected. If that debt is true (and it apparently didn’t include the $77 million), then the Maloofs need the high price to get any money out of this.
BarelyAble,
If the local group has any chance they really have to out bid Hansen.
At this point the Kings are most likely gone. They’re just keeping hope alive and clinging to anything like we, as Sonics fans, did back when they were relocating to OKC.
Part of me says they are gone other half that Hansen gets maloofed and team is sold to local group. Until that announcement that hansen has bought the team comes it can go either way.
With so many reports on the talks between Hansen and Maloofs, its really hard to know what actually is going on.
Agreed. Our hope back then was the lawsuit.
Sacramento has no leverage in this thing.
The most Sacramento can really hope for is a local group to come up and try to buy the team in the next couple weeks.
All those numbers are off, last year the numbers were about $100 million to the NBA, the early payoff of the bonds to the city is about $67 mil, but they have borrowed against a lot of the rest of the team but not from the NBA.
I think last year the number being kicked around by a local group was around $400. Going up to $501 and fund an arena in Sacto is what a local group would have to do.
My feeling is that they had already weighed all the offers. They have said that they have been approached by a few different groups. I can’t imagine that the local group from last year would not have been one of them.
Personal opinion, this isn’t 1st and goal, but a game winning touchdown has already been caught and K Johnson is looking for a review from the refs.
Mr baker,
question assuming KJ is able to get a local group created to buy the team, Is there enough time to where they could come up with an winning offer that Hansen and his group won’t able to beat before the BOG meeting?
I mean by the time he is able to get that group created.
I’m surprised about how much has already been said. The BOG meeting is a month away.
i think the longer we wait, the better for sacramento. the way today has gone i’m surprised we haven’t recieved a firm confirmation or denial of the sale. i just didn’t think they’d let it hang out there this long.
as always, i’m w/mr. baker. that puts me on the right side pretty much every time!!!
Nothing we can do about the wait. There is the negotiating part and that could let say take a week or two. Then the legal lawyers get their hands on it etc.
These things take time to consummate, and an announcement won’t be made until all parties have agreed to a deal and Hansen has put money into escrow. Don’t freak out if this takes additional time to complete.
Also, let’s not forget the Ballmer last ditch effort to keep the Sonics. If Sacramento finds a similar deal, the Kings will likely stay. Unlike ~4-5 years ago, Hansen doesn’t own the team right now. A local buyer can and should have the opportunity to match any deal offered by Hansen. That being said, a local buyer would have to be willing to pay at least $500m for the team, and an additional $100-$200m to build an arena. It would be extremely hard to make that kind of deal pencil out economically for a local investor. You would need someone who is willing to effectively willing to treat the deal as a charitable contribution with little likelihood of increasing franchise value over time. Highly, highly unlikely.
Lastly, it sounds like the Maloof’s want to hold onto a small ownership percentage of the team. At this point, it would seem to be impossible for them to hold onto a minority share of the team in Sacramento and still be people that are welcome back into the city as “owners” of the team. I doubt Seattle would welcome the Maloof’s as celebrities, but they could sit courtside without getting booed out of the Arena.
I think it could end up in a bidding war and i just don’t see the local group being able to beat hansen and his group.
but then again how much is hansen’s group willing to spend on acquiring the team before they back out.
The bidding war is probably over. $500m + $100-$200m to build an arena simply doesn’t pencil out economically in Sacramento.
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
Very plugged-in NBA beat writer .@daldridgetnt says the Maloofs aren’t selling #nbakings to Ron Burkle. (3:00 mark) http://ow.ly/gGx1x
Well who ever that local group KJ is looking to create won’t include Burkle
If KJ is looking now?
Yikes, that’s pretty late but not impossible. Ballmer offered $400 mil for the Sonics before they left.
What is working against Sacto is the premium being paid by Hansen is really high, but that buys a short sale and relocation by next season.
King5 broadcasting a program on the Sacramento/Supersonics rumors right now.
stuck at work. i hope it will re-air! deets are much appreciated!
Just found myself in the picture on the main header. Documentation that I was there! Wooooo!
Right, but what is being said is about correcting and detailing, but not outright denial (not even a little). And that just confirms the story more and more.
I think they would let it hang out there until the ink was dry and a copy had been faxed to the league office.
Excellent points.
This is a short sale. Maloofs are extracting as much as they can before time eats the present value.
I really don’t think we would see these rumors if the Maloofs had not already beat the shrubs for bidders already.
The MOU requires the team to only have so much debt.
hmm a thought is it possible that the maloofs would just ignore the group KJ is trying to create in attempts to keep the team in Sac?
They will ignore the lower bidder. It looks like they are past that, and are selling to Hansen now.
These negotiations would have been so much faster had the Maloof family been smaller.
but then they wouldn’t be called the 3 stooges.
Anyone notice that Steve Large tweeted again referencing the Maloofs rejecting the offer?
https://twitter.com/largesteven/status/289172140782141440
stevelarge_cbs13 @largesteven
source: Offer that Maloofs rejected would have covered debt to NBA and Sac, but left a much smaller net sale price for team.
Here’s the complex nature of this situation as a Sonics fan:
I’m ecstatic that the Maloof’s have (apparently) decided to sell the team to the Seattle group. ECSTATIC.
But I will never so much as give a single shrug to the Maloofs. If they are sitting courtside, if they are requesting ANY recognition that they are in the ownership group, I’ll be annoyed. I hate that it appears they’ll still be in the mix. Hell with them. Why?
THEY ARE HOWARD SCHULTZ.
They are a trio of douche-bottles that asked for the devotion of fans, received it in spades, then pissed on that same devotion that they had pleaded for earlier.
We know them. We know their kind. And F*CK them and their kind.
If they think they’re going to be received as some kind of heroes in Seattle…well…just picture Howie with courtside Thunder tickets.
I’m sure it’s true. Myopic, but true.
It’s called a negotiation. I’d be amazed if 10…20 offers haven’t been rejected at this point.
It’s like saying that the Redskins stopped the Seahawks.
100% true. They did several times…in the first quarter.
To quote myself from 7/2/2008, this time, to the Sacramento fans:
I have maintained that it has not, and is not, because of the fans that any of this is happening. The owners, the politicians, and especially the NBA, all have failed you.
Still true.
http://sonicscentral.com/blog/?p=2001
440 posts today on the old blog…
Wow. I guess this forum has a purpose.
What would everyone say the odds are this happens? I just got home i gotta lotta catching up to do. I seen something about johnson trying to find local ownership group. Im so lost…..
I don’t think he knows whats going on as much as everyone else does.
KJ found out that the Kings are actually up for sale and now is scrambling on trying to find a local group to buy the team.
Besides that I’m not even sure what in the world is going on other than talks are on going.
I hope the story didnt break too soon. Wish wojo woulda waited till it was done…..
If it wasn’t wojo it would been someone else.
But then you could always call them the Keystone Cops or the Marx Brothers
Maloofs/NBA aren’t going to sell to anybody else unless there has already been a local group together that has been waiting. It isn’t feasible to find a person or group that is willing to put up 500 million for a team and 200 million for an arena overnight.
Technically it was that Daina Falk who broke the story first, but people were pretty skeptical of her tweet.
Jeff Brennan @jay_eee_eff_eff
@ChrisDaniels5 I have a source in ownership group. no announcement planned until Seahawks season ends. Group prepared to wait until post SB.
KING 5 News @KING5Seattle
Jean Enersen just asked @ChrisDaniels5: On a scale of 1-10, just how close is this #Sonics deal? He gave it a 9: http://kng5.tv/TLwo7f
So essentially thats putting it as a done deal?
How badly were businesses in Seattle Center jumping up for joy upon hearing the news? The Maloofs’ uncanny ability to act in a completely irrational manner has me nervous. They’ve pretty much trolled sacramento for the last five years.
Would things have been different if the Kings had hit their free throws in Game 7 in 2002? It’s tough to envision a team running into the financial difficulties that would warrant a move like the Kings have only ten years from winning an NBA championship.
The way you’ve broken this tweet up is extremely misleading. Jeff Brennan is the one talking about his source, not Chris Daniels. He’s trying to convey that information to Daniels.
That said, the Seahawks theory makes a lot of sense. Don’t want to step on the toes of your future neighbor.
Wow! Sounds that way to me
Not misleading to me
Not sure how its misleading being I copied his post directly and it has Jeff’s name at the top but whatever
maybe i’m just not familiar with the convention for quoting tweets…but this reads to me like chris daniels is making the statement about holding off on an announcement.
anyway, i buy the seahawks theory. especially since i first heard it from leBleede, who i’m convinced is either an inside source or Sherman Alexie.
@SMK206
Next time I will remove the space between the Twitter name and their post. That should make it more clear.
Anyone able to show me how to set up an avatar for wordpress?
Anyone able to show me how to set up an avatar for wordpress?
A new NBA.com write up about everything that has come out today
http://on.nba.com/UXHvKs
Its a rather long article and has an imbedded video as well.
Derek Belt
@derekbelt
Isaiah Thomas told source the Kings were told after practice today the selling of the team was true. Thomas: “Deal is done.” #Sonics
Oh happy, happy day.
I spent all of yesterday locked in an important exercise with the customer, and of course, being on the other side of the planet, missed all the developments overnight.
That made for one great big lump of wonderful news today!
Could I really be within a month of dreaming up ridiculous rebuilding trades for the Kings/Sonics on the ESPN Trade Machine?
Here is a link to a good video about the situation off of NBA.com : LINK
there will be no official announcement until the seahawks playoff situation plays itself out. soooo….. dont expect anything til after FEB-3!!!!
So Seattle was a great NBA city? “I think it’s a great sports city,” Karl said. “It has an East Coast feel. Seattle is an individual city. Outdoors, entrepreneurs, there’s just a lot of mental action there.”
If the Kings deal goes through, there soon might be a lot of basketball action there again.
“A part of me is disappointed because I’ve enjoyed my time in Sacramento,” Karl said. “I’m not going to lie – I’m happy Seattle’s going to have a team but I am disappointed Sacramento can’t keep theirs.”
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/01/09/seattles-return-to-the-nba-getting-closer/
Sacramento Bee:
Reports of Sacramento Kings sale to Seattle group ‘premature’
http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2013/1/10/3859304/bee-reports-of-sacramento-kings-sale-to-seattle-group-premature/in/3620295
I just want to make a casual observation of mine here. The Sacramento press seems to be in denial here. Between listening to some(not all) of their sports dj’s on radio or reading the Sacramento Bee, I just get the feeling they never and still don’t consider Seattle a threat to get the Kings. Heck, they spent more time covering the Virginia Beach story when everyone knew that was pie in the sky for the Maloofs. Some Sac Town reporters still considered Anaheim a bigger threat than Seattle, regardless the NBA said no to Anaheim two years ago. Of course, the Seattle Times is no better. I can’t even bring myself to open up their website anymore.
Anyways, I just get the impression some of the Sacramento press has blown off Seattle as a destination. I could just be overly defensive here though…LOL.
George Carl is/was such a class act. Wouldn’t mind seeing him back coaching the Sonics again some day.
Say it aint so….So the Sonics do bring economic valley to Seattle????…hahahaha…
http://www.king5.com/news/business/NBAs-return-could-be-economic-boon-for-Seattle-186244842.html
*value
I can understand to a degree, but it does seem as if their sources are all saying the deal isn’t close or is dead. It seems that national media seems to have sources that say they are close. I tend to trust the national media, but I can understand the way they are feeling down there.
why are my comments going into moderation even though I’ve been posting for a while now?
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/10/5104094/jack-ohman-blurb.html
Now this is funny
looking for local buyers is like looking for new running shoes when the race has already started.
today should be interesting. will rumors/reports intensify or subside for a bit? we’ll see
Not sure man. I’m digging into it now and seeing if you your IP is close to one of the ones we have blocked or something. But it seems like your other posts go through just fine. Not sure exactly why this one got flagged.
That’s what it looks like when a local newspaper supports the sporting community in a city. Instead of cheering the absence of sports, they are holding on as tight as they can.
To Seattlites, naturally, it feels odd. Like something is broken because newspapers just don’t do that, do they?
My guess is things will simmer down for a bit.
if the morning is any indication, i’d say you’re right. if time is still needed to get this thing in ink, i’d prefer that the two parties go to work without being under the microscope so much.
There will probably be quite a bit of information on the SacBee and maybe the Kings fan sites, but I would say national reports will probably be pretty limited unless something big comes out (either deals off or terms agreed to).
If you find out, let me know. Been wondering that since the great migration.
Sac Bee is really sounding hostile here.
i agree with you on the sac press blowing off Seattle as a destination. We have an approved arena play with a group that seriously wants to get it done. Sac doesn’t have that luxury
This is what I keep hearing and I still don’t understand how the Seahawks in the playoffs has anything to do with announcing the return of the Sonics.
How do people come to these types of conclusions?
Sonics Rising needs to become the Sonics’ official SB*Nation blog once the move is official.
because they don’t want to steal the Seahawks’ buzz
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20130110/nba-d-league-portland-trail-blazers-nolan-smith/
There is some stuff in this about the Kings to Seattle rumors but I like the first part about the D league. It is pretty exciting that the D league is holding a lot more weight than it used to. It is interesting that people seem to think that the league will eventually expand to 30 teams and become sort of the AHL of the NBA (or minor leagues for you baseball fans although it doesn’t really apply as well). This is good for player development and eventual depth of the league and puts less risk on raw draft picks (how good would it have been to have the center of the year starting in the D league???).
Should we get the Sonics back, it would be pretty cool to put our own D league team in Spokane. They have the arena and it would help to give the east side of the state more of a stake in the team. I know that is probably too speculative, but the article is pretty good and got me thinking about an eventual D league team
Bring back the Yakima Sun Kings?
But if a sale is done, do you cut ally picture Hansen, Ballmer, and the Nordstroms asking the Maloofs to wait until the Seahawks season is over?
The sale has to be notified to the league….think they will say”Okay, we’ll wait until the Seahawks win the Superbowl or lose to announce the sale.”
Just doesn’t seem realistic to me. I can see Chris wanting to give the Seahawks the limelight and not want to overshadow their success. But I don’t see why others would wait for that reason.
Wenatchee is closer
I only say that for purely selfish reasons.
*do you actually picture
Damn auto correct!
I was thinking Yakima would work too since the dates would be open at that arena. I just know Spokane has a big basketball fan base and has enough people to fill seats (although the Spokane arena is rather large) and easier access for the other teams.
Heh, yeah Jack Ohman had been an editorial cartoonist for decades at the Portland Oregonian. He just moved to the Sacramento Bee (apparently the Oregonian is going the way of the Seattle P-I — except Portland has no other daily newspaper to fill the gap). He is extremely good, a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize recently.
I dont think its so much blowing off Seattle. I think it has more to do with the fact that they have been through the wringer so many times and the team continues to stay in town. They went through Anaheim. They just did VB. Now its Seattle. They dont believe the Maloofs either. And it makes sense why they would feel like “yeah right”.
i hope it does cause who knows how it would be reported and that makes it impossible to know what is correct and what is not.
Personally i’ll probably stay away from Sacbee and kings fan sites and just wait till we hear one way or another if this will happen or not.
If the Maloofs don’t sell to Burkle then Sacramento is going to find a local owner with the financial wherewithal to spend $500 million or greater for the team and $250 or greater towards and arena
They would probably have to have a mix of local and out of area investors.
The great thing about Seattle for an owner is the prospects of a lucrative tv contract. I don’t think an owner in Sacramento would find their tv deal even in the remote vicinity of seattle considering that Golden State is broadcasted on the major sports network down there
Menace,
i just don’t like the tone of how the article is written.
I’m saying, if KJ doesn’t have buyers lined up, he’s already a big step behind.
if they put a d league team in spokane it might have trouble competing with gonzaga honestly. they do have a nice arena and a bigger market though so i could see it.
I heard that Burkle has been already rejected by the Maloofs.
The way KJ was speaking yesterday it doesn’t sound like he has buyers lined up. He acted like he was taken in surprise that the kings are actually up for sale.
David Aldridge said he has it on good authority (he said “it’s not a rumor”) that the Maloofs would not sell to Burkle.
yea that’s where i heard it from.
KJ’s presser yesterday would do nothing to console me if I was a Kings fan. He said he didn’t know they were for sale, he didn’t have owners (but would find some), he hadn’t talked to the Maloofs, he hadn’t talked to Stern.
How bout Tri Cities?
Yea me too. He probably realizes that its game over for the kings.
I mean seriously why would a local group wanting to try to buy the team to keep them care about the march first relocation deadline?
What should KJ be really concern is a deal being done before BOG meeting where Maloofs sell to Hansen.
Really anywhere on the east side would work. Shoot, even Everett or Kent would work, but I just think the east side would benefit the most from the team. Tri-cities might be the best as the hockey arena is probably smaller and it is within easy access to lots of the east side cities.
I just heard a collective soiling by all the sports haters in the Seattle area.
Tri Cities could add that extra incentive to get promoted. It is just far enough away, just small enough and winters just bad enough to perhaps inspire an underachieving prospect.
Yakima is stagnant. The Tri-Cities have passed it in population. I’d go for Spokane myself. Tacoma or Everett as a back-up spot if Spokane can’t work out.
I believe the Zags sell out their Kennel games. Spokane is a good sports town. I think they would be the ideal spot for Seattle’s D-league partner.
Celtics excited for an NBA team in Seattle
http://bit.ly/XlpMfu
Its mainly some quotes from Celtics players who are from here and what they think about all of now yesterdays rumors/news. Its pretty cool.
You know i wonder how NBA feels about KJ latest attempt at trying to keep the team here about not having a group but will try to find one.
Interesting listening to Mitch talk on the subject today. He basically said that yesterday was nothing new. That no new progress or milestone was reached. That negotiations have been going on for weeks now. That this was just people finding out. Dick Fain hypothesized that the Yahoo reporter was sitting on the story, waiting for it to be final, but had his hand forced by the Daina Falk tweet. Mitch said that we should be encouraged and excited, but not popping champagne bottles. We’re still dealing with the Maloofs here. They are as unpredictable as could be. Everything he said falls in line with what Brian said when he went on the air with Softy yesterday. Softy was celebrating and Brian was cautioning him and everyone to slow down just a tad. Another interesting thing Mitch cautioned was thinking that a relocation vote would be a sure thing. Without the environmental impact study finished for another year, that the NBA would be signing off on moving to a city without a sure thing arena. He didn’t say they wouldn’t do so. Just to not count it as already in the bag.
Which is why I think Sacramento is in trouble. If they’ve been talking for weeks and KJ was completely in the dark and is just now trying to rally his troops, he’s already way behind.
Ouch those comments about Seattle being a better city than Sacramento has to hurt Sac fans. Rondo has no ties here (unlike Jason Terry, Jeff Green, and Avery). And he’s only played here twice, and it rained a lot.
Ouch.
as far as cities go, I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone who disagrees. but that’s not to say anything about Kings fans, who are great.
If Hansen is approved as an owner, I can’t see the relocation committee voting no. He is buying the team with clear intentions to move it; if they force him to stay in Sacramento for another year, that would be a disaster. Imagine if after Nickels gave up on the lawsuit, Bennett had forced to spend another year in Seattle.
He is trying to save face. He wants the people of Sac to know that he is doing something. Just like Nickels was with us. Big talk but no game.
Hansen has to know where things are going with the EIS or why else would he attempt to buy a team and relocate them for next season now.
Yeah I know they take a lot of pride in their city though.
McGinn and the council gave Chris the go ahead to look for a team after they approved the vote, remember.
I am still confused as to why they would allow this, as the EIS determines if the arena site is suitable to build on. They must know things can be mitigated easily?
I was thinking that too
Yeah I imagine the Rondo quote was like a boot in the berries to a lot of people in Sactown. But the other quotes in the article were pretty good
Maybe Chris had his own EIS done before hand and presented the councils and mayor with that info. I’m just guessing though
This goes along with my earlier link of the celtics players quotes about the news/rumors from yesterday. Its Avery Johnson being asked what he thought about all of it.
http://bit.ly/11jYMBT
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/01/09/seattles-return-to-the-nba-getting-closer/
Former Sonic James Donaldson on yesterday’s news/rumors
http://bit.ly/WvGTIO
Avery Bradley
Can I be honest and say I’ve never heard of him until today? I am so out of touch with the league.
I’m fairly sure most involved know that the EIS won’t be a problem. We’ve had this discussion here before. At worst, it’ll likely be something along the lines of a list of mitigation for Hansen and company to take care of. I don’t think anyone involved, be it Hansen, the NBA, or the city, fears a bad EIS report. I just think that like Mitch said, that an NBA stamp of approval before it’s technically finalized, might be a bit trickier than we want to believe. Even if they know it won’t likely be a problem. There’s a bit of a precedent to worry about.
I don’t see how it would be conceivable that the EIS would prevent the arena from being built at the proposed site. The worst it could do is require changes to mitigate environmental impact. That could be an issue, but it’s very unlikely that it will be a major issue.
I am just wondering if the sale would be contingent on relocation approval by the BOG? Maybe something like that isn’t even allowed under the rules of a sale, but there is no point to the sale without the ability to relocate ASAP.
Couldn’t NBA do what they did for the OKC set a conditional approval of relocation with a condition? Since with OKC they approved relocation on the contrition that the lease is taken care of.
They could do for Hasnen that they approve it on the condition that the arena is finalized.
Problem is, what’s the condition and when can it be met? Isn’t the EIS not set to be finished before the time the Kings should already be here if they are to play in the Key for 2013-14?
Exactly. Conditional approval would mean the team would play next season in Sacramento. That’s the problem.
Avery Bradley.
That’s exactly how I read it as well, Yoon. At very worst, if the issues could not be mitigated (albeit there is a nearly zero chance of this scenario occuring), I would imagine that the city would offer a “more suitable site” and Hansen could choose to build there, if he already had a team in tow. In other words, Seattle has committed to bond an arena, and it almost assuredly will be on Hansen’s land in SoDo, but there is a contingency built in.
True. But still Hansen should have an idea on how much longer it’ll be till its done or why would he be trying to buy a team now and relocating them for next season.
If Hansen knows that the EIS won’t be done in time before next season starts why would he be aiming for relocation for next season?
But it’s not like he can guarantee that everything found in the EIS will be mitigated or anything as a condition of relocation. That’s a blank check to local government essentially. I could see relocation being granted how you’re saying, with just a general knowledge that things will certainly work out, especially since a lame duck season or two in Sac would be excruciating.
Chris has been on this for years. I have no doubt that he’s done his due diligence and hired the best guys he can even before he approached the city and they went through all of the scenarios and he felt comfortable with what they decided.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-130110/sacramento-kings-potential-move
Not that I expect people to know, but I hate all of these “What should the team be called?” questions. It is in the MOU that it has to be the Supersonics. Also interesting they interview a Thunder blogger on this one…
There is 0% chance it’s not called the SuperSonics.
I’m more interested in the history. The only answer I can get is that we own the name, colors and logos, which I already knew.
Bryan May @BMayNews10
George Maloof tells News10 a deal to sell the Kings to Seattle group is not close.
Hey guys, I’ve been a Sonic fan since ’78 when we lost to the Bullets in 7 games for the Championship. Moved briefly out to Everett with an ex-Girlfriend in the early 90′s from Va Beach just to cheer for my beloved Sonics, and have boycotted the NBA ever since Stern/Bennett/Schultz screwed us over back in 2008. (Yes even though I’m not even from Seattle I felt your pain as I am a DIEHARD Supes fan…. No OKC Bandwagon jumping for this guy. If they aren’t wearing Green and Gold they aren’t MY team!) I was pretty excited when Va. Beach had a .001 % chance of FINALLY landing some sort of professional franchise, whether it be NBA or Hockey, but when that dream died I was ECSTATIC to hear that it looks like the Maloofs will be selling and Seattle will have an NBA team again. I still will adhere to my promise of boycotting ALL NBA related events until BOTH of two things happen….Seattle gets another Franchise and that little weasel Stern is no longer Commish. Once both of these events happen I will proudly renew my “Sonics 1″ Virginia License plates and start attending East Coast games again. Oh yeah, I will definately fly to Seattle for the first match-up against the hated rival Thunder as well. Anyways I just wanted to congratulate all the Sonic fans that have stuck with the effort to bring basketball back to the Emerald City and let you know Brian Robinson is my hero. Take Care, Scott
we’ll see where we are at at the end of the month.
http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2013/1/10/3862062/george-maloof-speaks-up-says-a-deal-is-not-close
^crap
but why didn’t he say that yesterday if that’s really the case? unless things have taken a turn for the worst in the sale negotiations, why wouldn’t he put that fire out earlier
Yes lets all trust George Maloof!
read the comments. Kings fans are less optimistic now.
I hear you Taylor, the Sonics’ history is a precious thing for me. I want our complete statistical history from all 41 seasons. If it happened here, it’s ours.
damn. those sound like our comments about howard lincoln.
They still have a lot of tickets to sell, folks. Until the deal is 100% finalized they are going to maintain that a deal is not close so they can squeeze every last penny out of this thing
You noticed its just 1 of the 3 maloofs brother saying that. You only need 2 for a deal to happen.
They have no intention on letting the arena empty before the all star break if they can prevent it.
LOL at softy recent tweet.
Dave Softy Mahler @Softykjr
I found Gene Wilder’s son. And he owns the Kings: http://bit.ly/VnOjCc
Makes sense to me.
The Seattle Times @seattletimes
#Kings’ owners want a say in how the team is run if they sell to Chris Hansen, an NBA source told The Seattle Times: http://seati.ms/SmPFxH
Retweeted by 710 ESPN Seattle
I imagine, if true and if its not something the Maloofs will drop, that’s got to be an absolute deal breaker. Luckily, the Maloofs are essentially in financial ruin and their bargaining position is really just bargaining posturing.
a tweeter response and not sure i believe it or not.
TThrapp @Thusky
@Softykjr @ChrisDaniels5 @Aykis16 just heard on TV from a reporter from Sacramento that 1 bro wants to sell and the other 2 not.
I don’t believe that. If that was true why in the world would the media be even talking about it for as long as they have.
I am not buying that Sean. I think its still negotiating tactics by the maloofs.
And of course its coming from the Seattletimes of course they will spin it as being a negative against the Hansen.
http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2020104985_kings11.html
They have no leverage to be making demands like that. Nevermind per MOU the maloofs can’t have any say in the franchise.
Maybe, but even if its true, how long would it hold up? Sure the Maloofs have a position of strength in that Hansen and his group really want an NBA team and they have easily the most available, if not the only one at this time. Doesn’t negate the fact that they are running out of money, have a ton of debt owed, their attempts at getting free arenas have all been scoffed at, and playing the Kings another couple of years in Arco is not going to work out. If they want to play poker with Hansen, Ballmer, and the rest, go for it, I don’t think they’ve figured out they’re already out of chips, though.
so they want Hansen to give them $500 million but let them continue to own the team. MORONS.
It’s not going to happen. Per agreement for the Kings to come here the maloofs CAN not own controlling interest.
The only leverage they have is they are holding the only supply where there is demand, mostly from Seattle. However, you’re right, they’re trying to play poker with no chips, and Hansen and Ballmer are in a win/win and can afford to be patient.
They are deluded. They probably want the $500 mill AND 25% control in exchange for Seattle move. Won’t happen. If the Maloofs even show their ugly mugs at courtside. They WILL GET lambasted by Seattle AND former King fan hecklers.
seriously, who the hell (as a buyer) would agree to that? even if burkle or whatever sacramento group buy the team instead of hansen ballmer i doubt they’d want those jackasses at the help. that’s like george maloof saying, “i’ll sell you my car but i’d the keys to your house so i can come over everyday and drive it.”
Test test?
Weird. Had two replies get sucked into oblivion.
good analogy
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
#Mariners VP Bart Waldman on Kings-to-Seattle story: “We’re excited to see basketball in back in Seattle.”
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
Waldman: “We’ve always been supportive of bringing the NBA back…” “Will work with city on EIS process”. #seattlearena
Not sure whos worse Maloofs or the mariners organzation. What a bunch of lame from the mariners.
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
#Mariners Waldman says team has no plans to join ILWU lawsuit, “never our intention.”..& “Will work with city on EIS process”
At least they are saying 1 thing right.
of course then again i could be wrong on them saying at least 1 thing right.
sounds like they know it’s a dud.
Not as weird as the past 2 days have been.
i want the m’s to stay away from the eis. please don’t help!
No way in HELL would any local Sac group agree to that stipulation. One way or another Sac wants to rid themselves of the Magoofs.
That’s why it’s a negotiation, you always ask for more than you expect get.
The Seattle Times blows, they’re in the bag for the Pork of Seattle and ILWU.
I think of the Mariners as that aunt who wouldn’t get you a gift for Christmas, but would donate $5 to charity in your name instead. Or that guy in your fantasy league who drafts someone already injured and out for the year in the first round.
I would call the Mariners stumbling, bumbling, morons but that would be an affront to actual stumbling, bumbling morons out there.
They should consider themselves lucky to get any piece after getting $500 mm or a franchise worth $300 mm.
They should get down on their knees and beg for a Jay-Z type percentage, and then kiss Hansens shoes in thanks.
Well, they are just good ole fashoned salt of the earth people…you know, morons.
Still the Kings (of Moving)
http://tinyurl.com/abls6cr
The guys are StR have a point, if they turn this into enough of a goat rodeo he could be forced to step in to prevent another nasty PR hit.
Who know where it goes it that happens.
All these rumors are killin me. I wish that cook never opened her mouth (or twitter page or whatever) and forced the wojo article and all these back and forth rumors…..
“he” being Stern?
Nothing we can do about that.
LOL
This shouldnt shock any of us. This is the Maloofs being the Maloofs. This is their cash cow and they are fighting to squeeze as much as they can out of the last remaining asset they have. It makes sense. They already got overpaid by $200 mm. They asked for the moon and got it. So now they are asking or the sun too………and whatever else they can get.
If they were/are close………Hansen just needs to give them a deadline and ultimatum.
1% share (at most) and $500 mm is what you get. And both offers go down every week.
Yea he means stern.
At least we don’t have worry much about local group trying to buy the team from Maloofs. If the maloofs are being that demanding.
Excellent young player. Really high ceiling. Could be a Bruce Bowen type defender with an actual offensive game.
Sure, give them a say. But just assume every one of their ideas is bad and automatically shoot it down.
Most likely, this is why they won’t sell to Burkle.
We could have a pretty nasty team of locals. Bradley, Thomas, Brooks, Hawes, JET, Crawford, Nate-Rob, Webster, Marcus Williams, Marvin Williams, Terrence Williams, Wroten
This is typical negotiating tactics. Until its 100% finalized and signed it’ll go back and forth and Maloofs will try to get more out of Hansen.
This is no different than SCC and Hansen negotiating on the arena deal imo.
Well with the port union the only party involved it does seem like that.
Does anyone know anything about the Squatch mascot? Would the new Sonics get that back too with the name and team colors and all of that?
Hansen is at one disadvantage by willing to overpay to get a team. Maloofs are taking advantage of that.
Thats a great point. Pretty sure nobody in Sacramento wants to get in bed with either Maloof
Let’s get this deal DONE!
yea i figure they’ll spin it as a bad thing when its only typical negotiation.
I AGREE!
so @Rob_McAllister, a bay area radio guy, seems to think joe and gavin are the ones who want control of the team even after a sale. they want a big payout but to still keep control of the team is what he says. when asked if sacrificing control is a deal breaker for the maloof family he replies, “for Joe & Gavin yes otherwise team would have been sold.”
Absolutely nonsensical. “Ok….I’ll give this to you in exchange for that, but only under the condition that when I give it to you, you hand it right back.”
You can’t have your cake vodka and drink it, too.
Joe and Gavin will cave eventually cause no way the kings are coming up to Seattle with them still in control. No way anyone local will want to buy them either.
They just shot themselves in the foot.
I seriously think these guys are mentally ill…..
soundersfan, that very well could be the case. it essentially says, “we don’t want to sell, but we have to.” because why would anyone sell a team by choice if they still want control. that in tern exposes their vulnerability.
Great point.
You know lets the maloofs keep making stupid demands. Stuff like this cant make stern happy. And we know what happens when stern gets p!ssed.
I tried to ask that several times yesterday but the posts wouldn’t go through. Once I cut out the part about Squatch it went through. So why were you allowed to ask and not me?
Exactly and also how much longer can the Maloofs afford to sit around making demands all the while losing money?
Yea i think stern will at some point get involved and pressure them to accept what Hansen has given them.
Yea nothing worse than owners selling with zero leverage.
Now for some much needed comic relief(this comes from David Nelson @MissingSonics) Guess which state thinks the Sonics wouldn’t be successful if the Kings moved to Seattle {ESPN Poll} http://bit.ly/UZPs1N
Ha! OKC
There is a reason why Sac Kings fans call them the 3 stooges.
Man, f*ck those guys seriously. We can still say that right?
Question would the NBA even accept such a sale with the maloofs still having control regardless of who the team is being sold to?
They are pathetic. They want to delude themselves that they didn’t steal the Sonics. Okies are sooners, cheating is in their blood.
Doubt it will come to that. Chris didn’t put his ass on the line like this to let those idiots take the show he built.
Agreed Sofa King
I would assume so. OKC isn’t using it.
They do not support it because it shoots down their lone talking point. SEATTLE DID NOT DESERVE A TEAM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SUPPORT OR CARE FOR THEM.
If that was true the NBA would not be jumping to get back in. Stern would not have Seattle as #1 on his bucket list (per David Locke).
The fact that getting a team back here is a major thing shows them that they were lied to by their hero, they were ignorant enough to believe it, and they were/are morons for continuing to push it.
They can’t bear to see that they were not ‘deserving’ to save an unwanted team and instead were merely brainless pawns in a game bigger than their ‘world class city’ will ever be.
They are just sad, pathetic, little trolls.
“Question would the NBA even accept such a sale with the maloofs still having control regardless of who the team is being sold to?”
It doesn’t matter because that won’t even happen. If they don’t retain a 51% share of ownership, they don’t retain “control” in any sense of the word and they know this.
“You know lets the maloofs keep making stupid demands. Stuff like this cant make stern happy. And we know what happens when stern gets p!ssed.”
Stern couldn’t care less about what half-truths get leaked out.
“Yea i think stern will at some point get involved and pressure them to accept what Hansen has given them.”
No, he won’t. He won’t need to.
You guys all need to stop riding the rollercoaster. There is really nothing more to report about this until the actual terms of sale get worked out and announced. Which will hopefully be soon.
Does Shultz still have a share of OKC?
The Maloofs get me started and then Justin Upton goes and pushes me over into ‘bad day’ territory.
new thread is up.
Sucks. But I cant really blame him.