Interesting article

[Trueblood]

This is an article out of Seattle. Don't know how much credibility the author has but despite it's location, it could be good for Kings fans. He talks about how Stern is "in the back room" looking for a new buyer for the Kings since everything has a price.

KJ was also quoted as saying that he's going to keep bringing buyers to the Maloofs until they accept.

Does this Seattle guy know something we don't? Are things really happening behind the scenes or is this guessing on the part of a largely clueless media?

http://sportspressnw.com/2012/05/thiel-every-team-profitable-in-3-years-says-stern/

 

[Glenn]

This is an article out of Seattle. Don't know how much credibility the author has but despite it's location, it could be good for Kings fans. He talks about how Stern is "in the back room" looking for a new buyer for the Kings since everything has a price.

KJ was also quoted as saying that he's going to keep bringing buyers to the Maloofs until they accept.

Does this Seattle guy know something we don't? Are things really happening behind the scenes or is this guessing on the part of a largely clueless media?

http://sportspressnw.com/2012/05/thiel-every-team-profitable-in-3-years-says-stern/

Can I say the obvious? For those who have been following the interaction between Stern/City (KJ)/Maloofs, OF COURSE STERN IS LOOKING FOR AN OWNER! Was that loud enough?

Stern has been crapped on publicly. Stern is a bright man who has turned the NBA from a decent major league to a highly successful leage AND has finagled new rules to balance the league so the have-nots can battle more on a an even field as the haves. In simple terms, he has negotiated a situation where rich people give money to poor people and the rich people agreed. He is a persuasive man and besides, it does no one in the BOG any good to have a franchise fail or even to have low attendance.

The BOG, the owners of the teams for those who don't know what the mysterious BOG is, owe Stern a lot. They at least owe him a careful listen as to what he wants to do with the Kings. Can it be any more clear that Stern wants the Kings in Sacramento? There are logical reasons for one sport towns to have teams as the article points out nicely but I think it has become personal. Perhaps I am simply projecting how I would react if I were Stern.

As to a team being able to survive on the big market teams money being sent to the small market teams as planned, I believe Stern or someone said that this wasn't something to count on. The BOG could deny money being sent to the Maloofs and I will add ESPECIALLY if they think the Maloofs are trying to get free money without using that money to put a competitive team on the court.

Maybe someone can remember but I seem to remember George saying that this was exactly their plan.

 

[rainmaker]

I'll repost this from another thread.


The two speak almost weekly regarding the latest arena developments. Johnson said he gives Stern developments on building a new complex, but admits that the Maloofs “hold all the cards.”

The Kings owners have mostly kept quiet about their intentions moving forward since balking over the $391 million project in which they would’ve contributed a $73 million portion. George, Joe and Gavin have maintained they do not want to sell the team and privately, they even turned down offers that came in higher than the franchise’s worth, which according to Forbes Magazine stands close to $300 million.

“I have brought a buyer to them, and would like to keep bringing another one to them until they eventually say ‘yes’,” Johnson said.


If true, which I have no reason to doubt the validity of, it's clear KJ and Stern are looking at potential buyers, the Maloofs have already rejected offers, and Stern wants the team here. That's why I don't get caught up in the attendance issue. Sac fans have already proven their commitment since 85. Maloofs sabotaging the market, which the BOG is aware of doesn't change that,nor do I think they want the Maloofs doing it again to another city.

 

[Glenn]

I'll repost this from another thread.


The two speak almost weekly regarding the latest arena developments. Johnson said he gives Stern developments on building a new complex, but admits that the Maloofs “hold all the cards.”

The Kings owners have mostly kept quiet about their intentions moving forward since balking over the $391 million project in which they would’ve contributed a $73 million portion. George, Joe and Gavin have maintained they do not want to sell the team and privately, they even turned down offers that came in higher than the franchise’s worth, which according to Forbes Magazine stands close to $300 million.

“I have brought a buyer to them, and would like to keep bringing another one to them until they eventually say ‘yes’,” Johnson said.


If true, which I have no reason to doubt the validity of, it's clear KJ and Stern are looking at potential buyers, the Maloofs have already rejected offers, and Stern wants the team here. That's why I don't get caught up in the attendance issue. Sac fans have already proven their commitment since 85. Maloofs sabotaging the market, which the BOG is aware of doesn't change that,nor do I think they want the Maloofs doing it again to another city.

Absolutely. VF21 can go to as many games as she wishes. Maybe it's because I have been paying attention to this issue including the article you just quoted or maybe because I have some magical powers and can figure these things out but I have no fear that the team will leave and am ABSOLUTELY sure there is nothing more the fans or the city needs to prove to anyone in power. As fans, we can calm down. The people with the power are on our side.

 

[ParniValjak]

There is no doubt that Stern would be working in the background to get the new owner/s for the Kings. Unfortunately, its not easy when you have a bunch of egocentric, attention seeking maniacs whose last claim to fame is ownership of the NBA team.

Thanks to our not so bright owners, the team is in major financial debt itself and as such, the offers coming in would not be great either. The problem is finding a buyer who is willing to dish out some money that is well above the market value of the team and on top of that be willing to put in some $100 million for the new arena AND spend money to make the team a contender.

Those guys are not easy to find because when you add all of that up, it could well in excess of $500 million that someone needs to cash up. That's of course not taking into the account the $70 million owned to Sacramento for the previous loan and the reported $100 million owed to the NBA.

I just hope this thing gets resolved really quickly because we as a team are in a very delicate period at the moment. We are going into a "lame duck" season, but before that we are going into an off-season where we cannot afford to make any errors and as long as the budget is limited, there is a great potential to do something stupid (eg, not re-sign JT, offer mid-level money to average player hoping they come good). On top of that, our 2nd best player is going into the season where he is eligible for extension but the ownership has "gone off him" as they have new but no where near as talented toys to play with (IT) and are known for being emotional and making irrational decisions. They could easily **** this up and set us back yet again by blowing the whole situation with Tyreke and not making smart moves during the off-season.

I am hopeful that NBA has a way of taking over the Kings during the off-season like they did with the Hornets and then making sure they go through a thorough process of finding the new ownership group that wants to keep this team in Sacramento. In fact, the condition of sale should be that the new owner agrees to provide the necessary funding for the Arena deal to take place ASAP.

We can hope for the best here but there is real danger that the Maloofs **** this team up before they sell up and for us fans that would be one of the worst possible scenarios. We need to keep Cousins/Tyreke pairing and cap room flexibility going forward before the new ownership group takes over.

One major and important difference between us and the Seattle situation is that we have the major and the NBA on one side and the Maloofs on the other. Sacramento's political leaders have come to the table and put together a plan largely funded by Sacramento. In Seattle it was a pissing contest between the Sonics owners and the NBA on one side, and the political leaders on the other.

I am more hopeful than optimistic that this gets sorted out quickly and with the least amount of damage to our playing prospects going forward.

 

[The Hammer]

I don't think there's any way that things AREN'T happening behind the scenes re: selling the Kings.

I find my self rooting more for the Maloofs to be ousted and a new owner, than for the Kings as a team to get better. In fact that ratio of rooting is honestly about 95% to 5%. I just have no real interest in following the team knowing the Maloofs are the owners.

In my view, all problems with this team that are worth talking about have one problem and one solution: ownership.

 

[ParniValjak]

I don't think there's any way that things AREN'T happening behind the scenes re: selling the Kings.

I find my self rooting more for the Maloofs to be ousted and a new owner, than for the Kings as a team to get better. In fact that ratio of rooting is honestly about 95% to 5%. I just have no real interest in following the team knowing the Maloofs are the owners.

In my view, all problems with this team that are worth talking about have one problem and one solution: ownership.

Our team has a few problems but none of them can be addressed once the main problem is addressed and the main problem is the Maloofs.

My greatest fear is that they have leveraged themselves so much that the price at which they would sell is so ridiculously high that no one is willing to offer that much. I just hope this is solved before the start of the season!

 

[Glenn]

I think Shinn lost his ownership for a lot of reasons but there were some sexual shenanigans going on as part of it. Can anyone Photoshop a picture of George in bed with Mrs. Stern? It might help.

 

[Trueblood]

I think Shinn lost his ownership for a lot of reasons but there were some sexual shenanigans going on as part of it. Can anyone Photoshop a picture of George in bed with Mrs. Stern? It might help.

He didn't lose ownership. He decided to sell because he had cancer and financial problems. Otherwise, no matter how hard he tried, Stern couldn't get Shinn to sell. This entire Hornet's debacle, from leaving Charlotte to Katrina to the Sonics leaving to the CP trade not going through could've been avoided had Shinn just did what Stern wanted him to do all along and that would've been to sell way back when they were in Charlotte. Or to Bennett after Katrina which would've kept the Sonics in Seattle. Or he could've given Gary Chouest a better deal 2 years ago. But he gave Stern headache after headache instead.

This is why I found the article and KJ's quotes to be interesting. Stern can't force a sale and from all we've heard, the Maloofs aren't going to sell no matter what and that they've made up their mind to try and relocate to Anaheim next year and what not. I've followed this just as closely as everyone. But if they are indeed willing to sell for the right price then that changes the game immensely.

If so, I could see it playing out like this. Chris Hansen outbids everyone in Sacramento but the league, in a last attempt to keep the Sacramento market, gives the city 2 months to find someone to match the offer. If they can't find anybody, the Kings go to Seattle. If they do, they remain in Sacramento with the arena financing agreed upon in Orlando. But there will be no Anaheim no matter what and that's a good thing and knocks relocation options down one big giant notch.