George Maloof wants to start negotiating again?

[funkykingston]

An anti-trust suit does nobody any good and the ramifications would ripple throughout the league, quite possibly affecting the other owners' bottom line - and that's not something they'd be too happy about.

It might do the Maloofs good if they get their way and move to Anaheim. Al Davis did it in 1980 and won. Then again Al Davis was rebellious, litigious, more than a little crazy and didn't care what anyone thought of him. Forget the intelligence and gumption required - do the Maloofs have the stomach to be at war with the NBA, other owners and the city of Sacramento? I doubt it.

Their preferred method seems to be passive aggressively sabotaging things while leaving themselves room to backpedal when negative sentiment heads their way.

Maybe I'm just feeling pessimistic today, but I just don't see an arena getting built in Sacramento with them as owners and I don't see them selling the team. I very much hope I'm wrong on both counts.

 

[JB_kings]

So George and by extension the NBA would be willing to destroy a city's hopes? That isn't exactly the reputation I'd care to have. Unfortunately I have a real bad feeling about this where a slimey little man can destroy the dreams of a city.

Stern won't. He has other cities like Milwaukee with arena issues. It's bad PR and bad for business if it looks like NBA endorses backing out on cities weeks after they make a deal. You want to bargain hard - but fair. The Maloofs tactics are not approved or endorsed by the NBA.

 

[Glenn]

Stern won't. He has other cities like Milwaukee with arena issues. It's bad PR and bad for business if it looks like NBA endorses backing out on cities weeks after they make a deal. You want to bargain hard - but fair. The Maloofs tactics are not approved or endorsed by the NBA.

My best friend lives near Milwaukee and is watching our situation closely.

 

[Kingsfan23]

Maloofs getting killed now in the national media: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/18445795

Is that writer from Sacramento?

 

[JB_kings]

Is that writer from Sacramento?

No. Austin, TX

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-moore/3/8bb/4b4

 

[Capt. Factorial]

For those reasons, I have to disagree somewhat with Capt. Factorial. I think the odds of the owners siding with the Maloofs are slim, while the odds of them convincing the Maloofs to take the deal (with perhaps a few minor modifications of the "toss them a bone" genre) are significantly higher. An anti-trust suit does nobody any good and the ramifications would ripple throughout the league, quite possibly affecting the other owners' bottom line - and that's not something they'd be too happy about.

I'm not sure we can take the Maloofs as rational actors right now. They're in a desperate position. Their empire (through their own fault) has crumbled, their final asset is leveraged to the hilt, and they're being asked to sink more money (which they may no longer even be able to borrow) into that asset in order to satisfy the dicta of the NBA. They can't turn a profit as it stands now, they can't take a big bail-out from Samueli because the NBA won't let them, and they can't sell the team for anywhere near its "market value" because of all the debt associated with it. It appears that if they are "forced" to stay in Sac, they probably can't afford to continue to own the team. It appears that they probably can't afford to sell the team. And the NBA, through something that at least resembles an anti-trust violation, is preventing them from taking another offer and moving their business somewhere they think they can make a profit. Barring an NBA change of heart, suing is the only option.

I just think that if they could make it work, they would, because as you said, suing the NBA is a lose-lose. But if they could make it work, they'd have made it work. They would just put the $3.25M of pre-development funds that they agreed to in the account and keep going forward. I have to believe they didn't because they can't. They're taking one last shot at a miracle in New York, and then they're going nuclear.

Boy, do I hate believing this. But I do.

 

[VF21]

I'm not sure we can take the Maloofs as rational actors right now. They're in a desperate position. Their empire (through their own fault) has crumbled, their final asset is leveraged to the hilt, and they're being asked to sink more money (which they may no longer even be able to borrow) into that asset in order to satisfy the dicta of the NBA. They can't turn a profit as it stands now, they can't take a big bail-out from Samueli because the NBA won't let them, and they can't sell the team for anywhere near its "market value" because of all the debt associated with it. It appears that if they are "forced" to stay in Sac, they probably can't afford to continue to own the team. It appears that they probably can't afford to sell the team. And the NBA, through something that at least resembles an anti-trust violation, is preventing them from taking another offer and moving their business somewhere they think they can make a profit. Barring an NBA change of heart, suing is the only option.

I just think that if they could make it work, they would, because as you said, suing the NBA is a lose-lose. But if they could make it work, they'd have made it work. They would just put the $3.25M of pre-development funds that they agreed to in the account and keep going forward. I have to believe they didn't because they can't. They're taking one last shot at a miracle in New York, and then they're going nuclear.

Boy, do I hate believing this. But I do.

I don't think the NBA is in violation of any anti-trust regulations. They provide for a vote of the ownership on certain issues. I don't think it can be termed anti-trust when it's part of being an NBA owner to have to get approval.

I think they're trying to walk the whole thing back right now because I really don't think they had any idea that Stern would pony up the $200K with blinding speed. It sent a pretty clear message and put them on their heels.

The Maloofs are like the neighborhood bullies. They just got out-played; they shouldn't have gone all in unless they were really sure they had the winning hand, which they didn't.

Of course, I'm sticking with this perception because I absolutely refuse to believe that the NBA would allow anything to occur that would, after all that has gone on, remove the Kings from Sacramento. If nothing else, it would not bode well for Stern's legacy.

 

[rainmaker]

I'm not sure we can take the Maloofs as rational actors right now. They're in a desperate position. Their empire (through their own fault) has crumbled, their final asset is leveraged to the hilt, and they're being asked to sink more money (which they may no longer even be able to borrow) into that asset in order to satisfy the dicta of the NBA. They can't turn a profit as it stands now, they can't take a big bail-out from Samueli because the NBA won't let them, and they can't sell the team for anywhere near its "market value" because of all the debt associated with it. It appears that if they are "forced" to stay in Sac, they probably can't afford to continue to own the team. It appears that they probably can't afford to sell the team. And the NBA, through something that at least resembles an anti-trust violation, is preventing them from taking another offer and moving their business somewhere they think they can make a profit. Barring an NBA change of heart, suing is the only option.

I just think that if they could make it work, they would, because as you said, suing the NBA is a lose-lose. But if they could make it work, they'd have made it work. They would just put the $3.25M of pre-development funds that they agreed to in the account and keep going forward. I have to believe they didn't because they can't. They're taking one last shot at a miracle in New York, and then they're going nuclear.

Boy, do I hate believing this. But I do.

Capt, I don't know much about anti-trust suits. If this does indeed happen, where does that then take us? How long does something like that get held up in the courts? What happens in the mean time? What happens if the Maloofs lose such a suit? Are they then forced to sell in a given time frame?

 

[kingjatt]

I don't think the NBA is in violation of any anti-trust regulations. They provide for a vote of the ownership on certain issues. I don't think it can be termed anti-trust when it's part of being an NBA owner to have to get approval.

I think they're trying to walk the whole thing back right now because I really don't think they had any idea that Stern would pony up the $200K with blinding speed. It sent a pretty clear message and put them on their heels.

The Maloofs are like the neighborhood bullies. They just got out-played; they shouldn't have gone all in unless they were really sure they had the winning hand, which they didn't.

Of course, I'm sticking with this perception because I absolutely refuse to believe that the NBA would allow anything to occur that would, after all that has gone on, remove the Kings from Sacramento. If nothing else, it would not bode well for Stern's legacy.

I think this is a very underrated ally for us, in the interviews after the lockout was over stern seemed more concerned with his legacy than ever before, at least publicly anyway, and with him stepping down in a couple of years he does not want this to be one of the last memories people have of him after all that he has accomplished in growing the league to a 4+billion dollar entity.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I don't think the NBA is in violation of any anti-trust regulations. They provide for a vote of the ownership on certain issues. I don't think it can be termed anti-trust when it's part of being an NBA owner to have to get approval.

I think they're trying to walk the whole thing back right now because I really don't think they had any idea that Stern would pony up the $200K with blinding speed. It sent a pretty clear message and put them on their heels.

The Maloofs are like the neighborhood bullies. They just got out-played; they shouldn't have gone all in unless they were really sure they had the winning hand, which they didn't.

Of course, I'm sticking with this perception because I absolutely refuse to believe that the NBA would allow anything to occur that would, after all that has gone on, remove the Kings from Sacramento. If nothing else, it would not bode well for Stern's legacy.

I hope you're right on all counts. I really do!

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Capt, I don't know much about anti-trust suits. If this does indeed happen, where does that then take us? How long does something like that get held up in the courts? What happens in the mean time? What happens if the Maloofs lose such a suit? Are they then forced to sell in a given time frame?

I'm not in law, so I can't speak to that. I'd guess a long time in the courts. Like a year, maybe. But I don't think if they lost they'd be forced to sell - by all accounts the NBA doesn't have a provision like MLB where they can force a sale, and losing an anti-trust lawsuit wouldn't result in a forced sale. Though it would likely make such a sale, and soon, inevitable.

 

[ParniValjak]

I don't think the NBA is in violation of any anti-trust regulations. They provide for a vote of the ownership on certain issues. I don't think it can be termed anti-trust when it's part of being an NBA owner to have to get approval.

I think they're trying to walk the whole thing back right now because I really don't think they had any idea that Stern would pony up the $200K with blinding speed. It sent a pretty clear message and put them on their heels.

The Maloofs are like the neighborhood bullies. They just got out-played; they shouldn't have gone all in unless they were really sure they had the winning hand, which they didn't.

Of course, I'm sticking with this perception because I absolutely refuse to believe that the NBA would allow anything to occur that would, after all that has gone on, remove the Kings from Sacramento. If nothing else, it would not bode well for Stern's legacy.

I think you are right in saying Maloofs are trying to get this whole thing back again. I think this is obvious by George Maloofs comments in the Bee that they are going to BOG meeting hoping for some compassion. They wanted to go all bullies on Sacramento and in doing that wanted all the communication records, the also brought in the lawyers. Except they didn't consider how pissed off Stern would be by all this and by association the rest of the owners. They also did not expect Stern to allocate $200K on Maloofs' behalf, let alone as quickly as he did.

They just realised they made the wrong move and are trying to back paddle here but I am not sure its going to work for them. Its obvious they have trouble coming up with the money and this (hopefully) leads to scenario where they sell the team. It might be wishful thinking but I honestly don't see another option here. If they can't afford it and they are not given the permission to move, I don't think they have any other option.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

They're obviously not that sharp if they want this to go to court, they're going to end up spending more on lawyer fees than they would on predevelopment costs for the ESC.

 

[The Hammer]

They're obviously not that sharp if they want this to go to court, they're going to end up spending more on lawyer fees than they would on predevelopment costs for the ESC.

Which would obviously indicate that they never intended to go through with the deal as currently negotiated in the first place, which right there would doom their case.

They wouldn't be suing over a "poorly negotiated arena deal". They'd be suing over the fact that they weren't allowed to move to Anaheim as they wished.

But they're going to have a tough time with anti-trust. This is a FRANCHISE operation. There are rules with any franchise situation that grant territory, etc. If I own a McDonalds, I can't just go plop it down next to someone else's McDonalds. The NBA's way of dealing with that is to have a BOG that votes on such things.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'll repeat myself hoping it give comfort to others: I simply see no possible way the Maloofs have a case or a hope to move the team to Anaheim.

 

[ParniValjak]

More pot shots at Maloofs and rightly so!

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/11/4404961/marcos-breton-kings-deterioration.html

How long will this farce go on for because the fans are getting restless and sick and tired of the antics.

 

[Dreamtiger]

I've tried several times to compose my thoughts and comment on this latest Maloof circus act, and each time so many profanities spew out of my keyboard that I don't submit the post. It all comes down to this in my opinion-- the Maloofs have now done irrepairable damage to their relationship with the fans and the city (and probably the NBA as well). Fans were ready to tolerate them again (if not actually embrace them), and they got a warm wecome when they stepped out onto center court many weeks ago. These latest attempts to sabotage the process has taken so much wind out of the sails, destroyed so much of the goodwill and good spirit that has been building over the last year, that I'm close to giving up on the Kings entirely. Which is what the spoiled man-children probably want at this point, to destroy every last shred of support in this city so that can do whatever they want with the team. It's the only thing that makes any sense, because there's no going back now-- they can't go into New York, get rebuffed by the other owners and the NBA, and then come back to Sacramento again with smiles and fake emotional tears and make everyone believe that there committed to this. There are only two outcomes-- they are allowed to renegotiate, which wil effectively kill the arena deal and give them an out so they can move the team and let some wealthy sugardaddy take over while they still get to sit courtside and act like playboys while secretly everyone is laughing at them, or they're forced to go forward in Sacramento which will be miserable for all and they'll have no choice but to sell. I just can't see them being detached owners who all the fans hate (like Sterling), because their self esteem and egos won't allow for that. One way or another, they're going down in flames this time-- the only question is whether they'll take the team with them or if they'll finally make the only reasonable choice-- to sell.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

They could also kick George out of the family as a show of good faith.

 

[LWP777]

I've tried several times to compose my thoughts and comment on this latest Maloof circus act, and each time so many profanities spew out of my keyboard that I don't submit the post. It all comes down to this in my opinion-- the Maloofs have now done irrepairable damage to their relationship with the fans and the city (and probably the NBA as well). Fans were ready to tolerate them again (if not actually embrace them), and they got a warm wecome when they stepped out onto center court many weeks ago. These latest attempts to sabotage the process has taken so much wind out of the sails, destroyed so much of the goodwill and good spirit that has been building over the last year, that I'm close to giving up on the Kings entirely. Which is what the spoiled man-children probably want at this point, to destroy every last shred of support in this city so that can do whatever they want with the team. It's the only thing that makes any sense, because there's no going back now-- they can't go into New York, get rebuffed by the other owners and the NBA, and then come back to Sacramento again with smiles and fake emotional tears and make everyone believe that there committed to this. There are only two outcomes-- they are allowed to renegotiate, which wil effectively kill the arena deal and give them an out so they can move the team and let some wealthy sugardaddy take over while they still get to sit courtside and act like playboys while secretly everyone is laughing at them, or they're forced to go forward in Sacramento which will be miserable for all and they'll have no choice but to sell. I just can't see them being detached owners who all the fans hate (like Sterling), because their self esteem and egos won't allow for that. One way or another, they're going down in flames this time-- the only question is whether they'll take the team with them or if they'll finally make the only reasonable choice-- to sell.

Good post. It's amazing how far they have fallen. I remember when we were all celebrating having them here because they had money, were likable, and seemed to do the right things for the franchise. Now it's all about ego and trying to preserve their last remaining asset because they have destroyed everything else. This isn't going to end pretty.

 

[D13]

More pot shots at Maloofs and rightly so!

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/11/4404961/marcos-breton-kings-deterioration.html

Sometimes I wonder who's side Marcos Breton is on. Articles worded like this do nothing to help situations and arena support. He can make his point against the Maloofs without throwing the teams future and arena impact under the bus.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Sometimes I wonder who's side Marcos Breton is on. Articles worded like this do nothing to help situations and arena support. He can make his point against the Maloofs without throwing the teams future and arena impact under the bus.

I don't know, for those who can't see this first hand, he paints a vivid picture on just how bad the Maloof's stewardship has become recently. We all know they are going cheap on the players and I guess you can make basketball excuses for that. There's no reason not to clean the place and have debris littered all over public areas. I think these articles need to be written to illustrate to those who are paying attention from afar.

 

[Larry David]

Sometimes I wonder who's side Marcos Breton is on. Articles worded like this do nothing to help situations and arena support. He can make his point against the Maloofs without throwing the teams future and arena impact under the bus.

Marcos is correct and it's time to tell the truth.

The fact is the Maloofs are now the reason this project isn't moving forward.

Even if Sacramento gets an arena, the Maloofs are bad owners, bad business partners, and a huge drag on the chances of the Kings ever being run well or winning consistently.

This team and the arena stinks because the owners have neglected them. Neither would be very good right now with a real owner, but the Maloofs have driven both into the dumpster.

Facts are facts.

Since 2008, when they ran into money trouble, the Maloofs are bad owners.

 

[JB_kings]

Marcos is correct and it's time to tell the truth.

The fact is the Maloofs are now the reason this project isn't moving forward.

Even if Sacramento gets an arena, the Maloofs are bad owners, bad business partners, and a huge drag on the chances of the Kings ever being run well or winning consistently.

This team and the arena stinks because the owners have neglected them. Neither would be very good right now with a real owner, but the Maloofs have driven both into the dumpster.

Facts are facts.

Since 2008, when they ran into money trouble, the Maloofs are bad owners.

This is why I'm not too overly concerned about David Stern's position on this issue. He sees the same things and probably feels it's time for a change. The Maloofs mismanaged their way to where they are. They see the way out of this is to uproot and change their market to the LA/OC market. Magically all sorts of money will be thrown at them and they will be the darlings again. The Sacramento market is a dead end for them. Even with a new arena, they can't get there with what money they have left and when they do it's going to be slim profits at best to field a competitive basketball team. The writing is on the wall. Sooner or later, they will have to sell.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

 

[VF21]

Marcos is correct and it's time to tell the truth.

The fact is the Maloofs are now the reason this project isn't moving forward.

Even if Sacramento gets an arena, the Maloofs are bad owners, bad business partners, and a huge drag on the chances of the Kings ever being run well or winning consistently.

This team and the arena stinks because the owners have neglected them. Neither would be very good right now with a real owner, but the Maloofs have driven both into the dumpster.

Facts are facts.

Since 2008, when they ran into money trouble, the Maloofs are bad owners.

Co-signed.

 

[Livinthedream]

Sometimes I wonder who's side Marcos Breton is on. Articles worded like this do nothing to help situations and arena support. He can make his point against the Maloofs without throwing the teams future and arena impact under the bus.

I think it's flawed logic to think that someone who abuses you will stop if you're nice to them or don't say anything. If you want a bully to stop, you punch him in the mouth and fight back with all you've got. Even if you lose the battle, at least he will think twice before he tries to bully you again. I've said this before.....the Maloofs want to move the team anyways. Being nice to them won't change their minds. The last thing you want to do is bend over for them on their way out.

 

[VF21]

I've tried several times to compose my thoughts and comment on this latest Maloof circus act, and each time so many profanities spew out of my keyboard that I don't submit the post. It all comes down to this in my opinion-- the Maloofs have now done irrepairable damage to their relationship with the fans and the city (and probably the NBA as well). Fans were ready to tolerate them again (if not actually embrace them), and they got a warm wecome when they stepped out onto center court many weeks ago. These latest attempts to sabotage the process has taken so much wind out of the sails, destroyed so much of the goodwill and good spirit that has been building over the last year, that I'm close to giving up on the Kings entirely. Which is what the spoiled man-children probably want at this point, to destroy every last shred of support in this city so that can do whatever they want with the team. It's the only thing that makes any sense, because there's no going back now-- they can't go into New York, get rebuffed by the other owners and the NBA, and then come back to Sacramento again with smiles and fake emotional tears and make everyone believe that there committed to this. There are only two outcomes-- they are allowed to renegotiate, which wil effectively kill the arena deal and give them an out so they can move the team and let some wealthy sugardaddy take over while they still get to sit courtside and act like playboys while secretly everyone is laughing at them, or they're forced to go forward in Sacramento which will be miserable for all and they'll have no choice but to sell. I just can't see them being detached owners who all the fans hate (like Sterling), because their self esteem and egos won't allow for that. One way or another, they're going down in flames this time-- the only question is whether they'll take the team with them or if they'll finally make the only reasonable choice-- to sell.

Also co-signed.

Thanks for taking the time to find the words to express your feelings/frustrations. It's good to have different people step up. I've had to put my soapbox away more than once because the vitriol I find myself wanting to spew is just not the person I want to be. And who has caused this? The Maloofs, pure and simple.

 

[ParniValjak]

Sometimes I wonder who's side Marcos Breton is on. Articles worded like this do nothing to help situations and arena support. He can make his point against the Maloofs without throwing the teams future and arena impact under the bus.

I think you might be missing the whole point of the article. Its all about calling Maloofs out for their lack of input that has led to this point. The maintenance on the PBP stopped a few years ago and it appears to be worse than it actually might be. He also mentions that the product on the floor sucks and does not blame the basketball operations because they are hamstrung because the owners are not spending money. That is the whole problem here. To a Maloof skeptic like myself this appears to be a ploy on their part that started a few years ago. Stop maintaining the building, stop spending money on the team, in fact make moves to make some small change and eventually the crowds will go down. Stop connecting to the community and local businesses so the ticket sales and sponsorship goes down to the point where you are barely breaking even. Once that happens you can file for relocation with all these reasons to back it up. Except they did not count on a determined major, a former all star who has a direct line to Stern and they did not count on the respect that other owners have for Sacramento. So their initial plan backfired and they are boxed in. They either will have to pony up cash for the arena, or they will be forced to sell as they will not get much sympathy from the NBA and other owners.

There is one thing that I do know, once Stern puts his stamp of approval on something and he declares he is in, there is no way in hell he backs out from that. The Maloofs are boxed in here and they just realized it. They tried to outsmart everyone except all they did was outsmart themselves.

 

[VF21]

I think you might be missing the whole point of the article. Its all about calling Maloofs out for their lack of input that has led to this point. The maintenance on the PBP stopped a few years ago and it appears to be worse than it actually might be. He also mentions that the product on the floor sucks and does not blame the basketball operations because they are hamstrung because the owners are not spending money. That is the whole problem here. To a Maloof skeptic like myself this appears to be a ploy on their part that started a few years ago. Stop maintaining the building, stop spending money on the team, in fact make moves to make some small change and eventually the crowds will go down. Stop connecting to the community and local businesses so the ticket sales and sponsorship goes down to the point where you are barely breaking even. Once that happens you can file for relocation with all these reasons to back it up. Except they did not count on a determined major, a former all star who has a direct line to Stern and they did not count on the respect that other owners have for Sacramento. So their initial plan backfired and they are boxed in. They either will have to pony up cash for the arena, or they will be forced to sell as they will not get much sympathy from the NBA and other owners.

There is one thing that I do know, once Stern puts his stamp of approval on something and he declares he is in, there is no way in hell he backs out from that. The Maloofs are boxed in here and they just realized it. They tried to outsmart everyone except all they did was outsmart themselves.

You could certainly see the difference when the NBA sent specialists out here to help with the marketing. Reminded me of how it used to be before the Maloofs gave the job to people like the one who thought the gold uniforms and "Midas" campaign were good ideas.

 

[JB_kings]

Another salvo firing at the Maloofs:

Rob McAllister tweet:

So it appears a group of Sac biz leaders are sending a letter to David Stern about the Maloofs. I can imagine it's not going to be good. The letter is about future ownership of the Kings. A press conference is being held Thursday to unveil what they are asking NBA Commish.

 

[Glenn]

Co-signed.

Co-co signed.