Crucial "Burkle" Corner Likely Turned Soon

Capt. Factorial

Capt. Factorial

ceterum censeo delendum esse Argentum
Staff member
http://www.sonomanews.com/News-2011/Anderson-brokering-Kings-deal/

Here's an article on Sonoma investor Darius Anderson, who is apparently working beside Ron Burkle in what the article does not state, but seems to imply, is an attempt to buy the Kings and keep them in Sacramento. The article is from Monday and suggests that a crucial corner might -- might -- be turned by the end of the week (which of course corresponds to the Relocation Committee's visit here).

Digest, speculate, and enjoy!
 
While the dream ending to this scenario (for me anyway) is Anderson/Burkle buying the team (maybe even an ownership swap where the Maloofs get the Hornets) and helping to broker a new arena deal in the railyards, Geoff having a strong offseason (draft, trades, free agency), hiring Adelman back and the team showing the kind of growth that points to a very bright future.

But the reality is that I don't see the Maloofs selling. I think the Kings stay in Sacramento next year and everything hangs on getting an arena deal done. But I'll certainly take that outcome when just a week ago I thought my team was all but gone.
 
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funkykingston said:
While the dream ending to this scenario (for me anyway) is Anderson/Burkle buying the team (maybe even an ownership swap where the Maloofs get the Hornets) and helping to broker a new arena deal in the railyards, Geoff having a strong offseason (draft, trades, free agency), hiring Adelman back and the team showing the kind of growth that points to a very bright future.

But the reality is that I don't see the Maloofs selling. I think the Kings stay in Sacramento next year and everything hangs on getting an arena deal done. But I'll certainly take that outcome when just a week ago I thought my team was all but gone.
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Agreed on all points, especially the part about simply having a team being enough, regardless of who owns it.
 
funkykingston said:
While the dream ending to this scenario (for me anyway) is Anderson/Burkle buying the team (maybe even an ownership swap where the Maloofs get the Hornets) and helping to broker a new arena deal in the railyards, Geoff having a strong offseason (draft, trades, free agency), hiring Adelman back and the team showing the kind of growth that points to a very bright future.
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Count me in on the dream Funky!

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As far as speculation - I can't imagine any other "turn the corner" scenario than Burkle/Anderson/Webber buying the team.
 
And while I have been incredibly frustrated by the Maloofs actions and especially comments of late, and have been bothered by their bumbling ways looooong before the relocation became a real issue, the fact is that it will all be water under the bridge if they come back and the team stays long term. Now, if they aren't committed to spending money to win that's a different story, but the reality is that while there are better owners in the NBA, there are also much worse.
 
Löwenherz said:
Count me in on the dream Funky!

As far as speculation - I can't imagine any other "turn the corner" scenario than Burkle/Anderson/Webber buying the team.
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It could mean closing the door on the possibility and moving on as well, but I'd like to think it means buying the Kings.

I didn't buy it for a second when Stern said that Burkle wasn't a big factor in deciding to look at things closer. I think his eyes got wide and he saw a big fish that he'd love to land. Especially one that has already shown the ability and willingness to get an arena deal done and bring huge value back to a franchise that was teetering on the brink.

I really think Stern and the owners see the Maloofs as struggling regardless of their claims at the BOG meetings and they don't like the idea that they are trying take a bad deal in a crowded market because of it.

If David Stern could force the Maloofs to sell to Burkle I think he would.
 
Burkle is going to have to be satisfied with brokering a deal to build an arena. Neither he nor the NBA can force the Maloofs to sell. This focus on him buying the team is wishful thinking. Stern has no power to force the Maloofs to sell. He may have the charm to convince them, however, but that's the extent of it.
 
Glenn said:
Burkle is going to have to be satisfied with brokering a deal to build an arena. Neither he nor the NBA can force the Maloofs to sell. This focus on him buying the team is wishful thinking. Stern has no power to force the Maloofs to sell. He may have the charm to convince them, however, but that's the extent of it.
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The Maloofs absolute stance that, "we are not the selling Kings" is not a Shermanesque statement that, "we'll never sell the Kings." I agree, it's unlikely they sell anytime soon - whatever soon means. Things change though and maybe if they don't get a new arena funded by March 2012 deadline, don't have a good relocation option, or don't like being in say Louisville, that they eventually entertain offers to buy the team. That's where knowing a suitor like billionaire Burkle is out there is rather useful.
 
Glenn said:
Burkle is going to have to be satisfied with brokering a deal to build an arena. Neither he nor the NBA can force the Maloofs to sell. This focus on him buying the team is wishful thinking. Stern has no power to force the Maloofs to sell. He may have the charm to convince them, however, but that's the extent of it.
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Of course, but just because the Maloofs said they weren't selling doesn't mean they won't. They could have been moving to Anaheim solely to up the value of the team before selling. That's certainly not something you'd tell the BOG but it could be a possibility. Or being emotional guys they flat out don't want to return to Sacramento. Who knows? If they feel backed into a corner and are really struggling as much financially as most of us think they are, perhaps it happens.
 
Glenn said:
If Burkle wants a team, why doesn't he buy the one team that is for sale, the Hornets?
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He was approached by his friend and protege Anderson to help keep the Kings in Sacramento. I think that's where his involvement comes from, not from a burning desire to own an NBA team. I mean, he rarely attends Penguins games from what I've read.

As for what's in it for him, I think that (just like the Penguins) he sees a team that has lost significant value (from nearly $400 million in 2007 to less than $300 million today) and views it as a chance to make a big return on investment when the team has a new arena and hopefully gets back to playing playoff basketball.
 
funkykingston said:
As for what's in it for him, I think that (just like the Penguins) he sees a team that has lost significant value (from nearly $400 million in 2007 to less than $300 million today) and views it as a chance to make a big return on investment when the team has a new arena and hopefully gets back to playing playoff basketball.
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Also he is a political fundraiser and it would give him essentially an automatic in and home base in California's capital.
 
Glenn said:
If Burkle wants a team, why doesn't he buy the one team that is for sale, the Hornets?
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I think the NBA is committed(for now) to having the Hornets in NO. I don't think they're for sale unless there's a commitment to NO in the purchase. I doubt Burkle wants to own a team in NO. The Kings are a "buy low" right now and I don't think you can dismiss that they're in the political capital of CA.
 
mr. moustache said:
I think the NBA is committed(for now) to having the Hornets in NO. I don't think they're for sale unless there's a commitment to NO in the purchase. I doubt Burkle wants to own a team in NO. The Kings are a "buy low" right now and I don't think you can dismiss that they're in the political capital of CA.
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I didn't mean Burkle would move the team from NO. He lives in SoCal and owns the Penguins. I don't know how anyone can say with surety where he would want to own anything.
 
Glenn said:
I didn't mean Burkle would move the team from NO. He lives in SoCal and owns the Penguins. I don't know how anyone can say with surety where he would want to own anything.
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True, but nearly all of this is speculation. Will the Maloofs sell? Why does Burkle want the Kings? Why doesn't he go after the Hornets? There are plausible answers but they are all just conjecture.

The only real facts are that (1) Ron Burkle is a billionaire who bought the Penguins when they were on the verge of moving and helped pave the way for them to have a new arena and (2) he is part of a group that approached the Maloofs interested in buying them.
 
Löwenherz said:
Just found this bit of trivia: in 1993 Burkle purchased Greenacres, a 36,000-square-foot mansion built by silent film star Harold Lloyd and modeled after a Renaissance-era villa in Florence.

It's also the site of the famous scene in the Godfather where the guy wakes up to find a horse head in his bed.

Is life too weird or what?

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/17/3556658/for-burkle-its-only-business-people.html#ixzz1KH3S3pwu
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That is an awesome tidbit.

"Hey Maloofs, nice team you got there. It would be a shame if something happened to it."
 
Glenn said:
If Burkle wants a team, why doesn't he buy the one team that is for sale, the Hornets?
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Cause he wants to own one in Sacramento, one that is loved and has a history in Sacramento, so he can wine and dine political heavy hitters to influence California politics... and maybe more. Owning a team for him will be more of a status thing that allows him to accomplish his other agendas.
 
The Hammer said:
Cause he wants to own one in Sacramento, one that is loved and has a history in Sacramento, so he can wine and dine political heavy hitters to influence California politics... and maybe more. Owning a team for him will be more of a status thing that allows him to accomplish his other agendas.
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Exactly... he's really is a smart guy. What better than to have a huge city impact in the state capitol of one of the largest predominantly Blue states in the country.
 
ArcoKings said:
I bet if Burkle offered $350 million + the Maloofs would sell. :cool:
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Well, considering they only own a bit over half of the team, that would be a pretty severe overpayment. How could the Maloofs say no? They could buy the entire Hornets team for that.
 
Capt. Factorial said:
Well, considering they only own a bit over half of the team, that would be a pretty severe overpayment. How could the Maloofs say no? They could buy the entire Hornets team for that.
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The only reason Burkle wouldn't pay that much is because he would catch flack in the public eye for it. Otherwise, I have no doubt he would pay that much to have a 51% controlling interest in the team.

Hard to underestimate how much is based on status when you're playing at his level.
 
D13 said:
What better than to have a huge city impact in the state capitol of one of the largest predominantly Blue states in the country.
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Own the Wizards. :) Why settle for state power when you are a national player. Just funnin'.
 
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