I think Maloofs have been backed into the corner here. NBA has advised them to stay in Sacramento but they are so financially strung that they need a major cash injection and they need it NOW!
They know that if they stay in Sacramento, they will go bust and they don't want to sell the team so they are going to trust their gambling instinct and file anyway. Based on the advise of relocation committee, I think the BOG will vote against the move or set a ridiculously high relocation fee that Maloofs won't be able to pay it. This way they are forced to stay in Sacramento at least for a year.
This is where they are backed to the corner a lot more than they are now. NBA is aware that "the boys have no money" and are concerned where they are going with this. When the relocation request gets rejected, the Maloofs won't be able to return to Sacramento. They WILL be forced to sell.
They way they see it, they have nothing to lose by filing. On the off chance that their request gets approved, they live to fight another day. If it gets rejected, they are back to where they are now, being forced to sell because they can't afford to run the team anymore.
I would be very surprised if they can get enough votes to move to Anaheim. VERY VERY surprised. Make no mistake, Maloofs are broke and where never rich enough by NBA standards and as far as Stern and other owners see it, they would much rather have someone who treats the team as a hobby rather than business and can afford to throw the money around. If KJ failed to "get Burkle", it might have been a different story. NBA would love to have a team owned by Burkle who is willing to keep the team in Sacramento and work on a new arena.
I am cautiously optimistic that Kings will be in Sacramento next season, regardless of whether or not the Maloofs file. From their perspective they have nothing to lose by filing. They either get to Anaheim to fight another day and prolong the slow death, or they are forced to sell because they can't run the team any more. If the file, the burn their bridges in Sacramento and there is no way they can come back but since NBA is not really keen to have them as owners with their financial crisis, they won't be too forthcoming with a helping hand by approving the request to leave.