KJ's press conference and other latest news, rumors, etc.

[Prince_XY]

My heart wants them to stay, but I think it's too late....

This is how I feel too and I also think Sacramento leader's moves were always a step TOO LATE.

KJ should have looked for these "big whales" long before the threat from the big whales from Seattle materialized. Even the dumbest fan in this board knew the end game was that the Maloofs are going to sell and all they care for is money.

 

[Ryan]

Seattle's attendance numbers weren't exactly stellar well before the Sonics moved (only sold out something like 3 seasons during the 90's) AND they have multiple pro teams to compete with AND many fans may not come back to the NBA after having their heart ripped out.

I'm just posting this since I made it.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

This is how I feel too and I also think Sacramento leader's moves were always a step TOO LATE.

KJ should have looked for these "big whales" long before the threat from the big whales from Seattle materialized. Even the dumbest fan in this board knew the end game was that the Maloofs are going to sell and all they care for is money.

Do you not remember that KJ already had Burkle in his pocket when he went to the BOG meeting when the Maloofs were trying to move to Anaheim? That's almost two years before the Maloofs actually made a deal to sell the team, and KJ already had a buyer. KJ couldn't actually move until the team was up for sale (or in this case sold), but the buyer has been in place. This "too late" stuff is pure nonsense.

 

[The Hammer]

fair enough, but it just seems to be the momentum behind keeping the Kings here isn't near as strong as it was in the "here we build" days... Almost get the feeling that people are drained and time is running out.... The first time they were about to leave, the news was everywhere here in Sacramento, but now it's not appearing as people care as much....I think people are just sick of the whole thing....

You're pretty wrong. Or at least uninformed.

We now have TWO potential arena sites. And TWO potential ownership groups.

Quite a simple chess game going on, where KJ had to wait till all his ducks were in a row, and that this filing happened. No way to avoid that. How to block it is do exactly what KJ has and is doing. There is simply zero chance Stern approves a move if we have a city approved arena plan in place and a matching bid. Mark my words. Zero. The NBA will not let a family of nit wits destroy a market. In Seattle, it was the city government itself that caused the team to leave.

 

[The Hammer]

This is how I feel too and I also think Sacramento leader's moves were always a step TOO LATE.

KJ should have looked for these "big whales" long before the threat from the big whales from Seattle materialized. Even the dumbest fan in this board knew the end game was that the Maloofs are going to sell and all they care for is money.

He did. Remember the epic BOG meeting two years ago when Ron Burkle's representatives were in the room? Apparently not. My question is how do you have 1400 posts and then make one like that?

 

[Glenn]

The minority owner's first right of refusal case aside, the consensus of the situation is .. if Mayor Johnson is able to put together a viable ownership group with an arena deal in place, the team is going to stay in Sacramento. The NBA is not going to move a team from a proven market to an unproven market when they've got an iron clad ownership group and arena deal in place. And, yes, I said unproven market as Seattle's attendance numbers weren't exactly stellar well before the Sonics moved (only sold out something like 3 seasons during the 90's) AND they have multiple pro teams to compete with AND many fans may not come back to the NBA after having their heart ripped out.

This is what always made practical sense and all the rumors bouncing this way and that have not changed my mind.

Given all the logistics about keeping a team with an active fan base in its home is only part of what makes sense. There also is what appears to be the fact that Stern is for Sacramento keeping the team. He has certainly kept KJ in the loop and perhaps even in a way that might tick off the Maloofs. SOB!!!

And then there is the matter of fairness. The Maloofs snuck around and would not even start a negotiation with an ownership group that would have kept the team in Sacramento. THIS I do not understand. If we take a Seattle offer that is the same as a Sacramento bid, using the logic most of us have been depending on to maintain our sanity is that tie goes to the runner, er, city with the team already. This is not a computerized decision making process where feelings are ignored. Will the BOG frown on the way the Maloofs have not only snuck around but also have refused to negotiate with an ownership group that would have kept the team in Sacramento? This is where it seems to have gotten personal as they (George?) is showing his anger at the close knit cooperation between the NBA and the city. To me, money is money but more is involved here as Sacramento money appears valueless to the Maloofs compared to Seattle money. ????

In any case, the Maloofs will not own an NBA team and that stench they leave behind will gradually waft away with an ocean breeze.

 

[ParniValjak]

This is a bit odd. Not that Seattle group filed for relocation but that Stern has said that he has combined the two committees into one and told them to work it out.

We all know that the number of votes needed to sell the team and relocate it are very different! I am not a fan of this approach but I could be jumping at shadows.

 

[Chupacabra]

This is how I feel too and I also think Sacramento leader's moves were always a step TOO LATE.

KJ should have looked for these "big whales" long before the threat from the big whales from Seattle materialized. Even the dumbest fan in this board knew the end game was that the Maloofs are going to sell and all they care for is money.

I dont like to point fingers but too often people fail to see the aspects that ACTUALLY matter. Whether or not the Sacramento group makes a counter offer, size of the Sacramento groups counter offer and the BOG meeting are the only things that matter from here on out.

 

[Section 101]

This is a bit odd. Not that Seattle group filed for relocation but that Stern has said that he has combined the two committees into one and told them to work it out.

We all know that the number of votes needed to sell the team and relocate it are very different! I am not a fan of this approach but I could be jumping at shadows.

relocation vote only happens if the sale happens to Hansen. So it does make sense to combine the two so the relocation is part of the sale.

 

[KingsFanatic]

You're pretty wrong. Or at least uninformed.

We now have TWO potential arena sites. And TWO potential ownership groups.

Quite a simple chess game going on, where KJ had to wait till all his ducks were in a row, and that this filing happened. No way to avoid that. How to block it is do exactly what KJ has and is doing. There is simply zero chance Stern approves a move if we have a city approved arena plan in place and a matching bid. Mark my words. Zero. The NBA will not let a family of nit wits destroy a market. In Seattle, it was the city government itself that caused the team to leave.

I guess that's where my skepticism comes in. I'm just not as confident as you and others that KJ is going to be able to get an amazing deal together......I just think it's too late. I hope I'm wrong, I really do....

 

[Glenn]

My primary worry came up when the word "whales" (plural) entered the conversation. I know it sounds impressive to have many whales wanting to keep the Kings here but if I were a whale, I wouldn't want to share decision making with anyone. In other words, what sounds like a positive is really a negative. Mastrov must want full control as he was the sole bidder for the Warriors I am assuming to battle against who won. Burkle seemed capable of buying and managing the Kings on his own. Can Burkle and Mastrov work it out between them? There's the rub.

It depends on how many whales KJ has lined up as I have heard the number as high as 5. That would be wonderful if 4 said they didn't want anything to do with the day to day managing of the Kings. Where's the fun in that? Know what I mean? KJ is dealing with people who are not used to taking second seat and now we'll see his political skills put to their biggest test.

 

[Gary]

I guess that's where my skepticism comes in. I'm just not as confident as you and others that KJ is going to be able to get an amazing deal together......I just think it's too late. I hope I'm wrong, I really do....

You're not the only one. Even after all that I have read over the past few weeks I am still really skeptical that Sacramento has any real chance to keep the Kings. I think it's all just smoke and mirrors. They will hear the case but at the end of the day they will come out with the cut and paste decision/remarks that "It was very hard to come to this decision but blah blah blah Seattle blah blah". I don't think the NBA really cares.

 

[Warhawk]

I'm just posting this since I made it.

Nice little visual to hammer a point home. Nice.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Ladies and gents, I give you whales:

AP: Ron Burkle and Mark Mastrov en route to Sacramento, CA. Not pictured: Failure. http://t.co/eInE5IGI -- Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave)

 

[Purple Reign]

Wow!!! I am actually shocked at the level of pessimism from some members of this board. If one has been following this story with any practical consistancy knows that Sacramento has better than a 50 50 shot at winning this thing; especially in knowing that possession is nine tenths of the law. It all comes down to Legit investors, an arena plan that is mostly in place and only eight no votes to reject the sale to Seattle. To me that is not impossible. If the NBA allows the team to leave in the face of that then DEUCES!!!! The league ain't worth fightin for. I would be done with professional basketball.

But I don't think that will be the case. Sacramento controls it's own destiny!!!

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

the whales are coming, the whales are coming!!!

 

[ParniValjak]

relocation vote only happens if the sale happens to Hansen. So it does make sense to combine the two so the relocation is part of the sale.

I don't see it! How does the voting then work if they approve the sale? Nothing is defined with the combined committee.

http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2013/...le-group-has-officially-filed-for-relocation/

Two committees would typically vet both the proposed sale and the move of the franchise to Seattle, but Stern said he has combined the committees into one. The committee will report to the Board of Governors, which is expected to vote on both the sale and the proposed move at its meeting in mid-April.

Stern said the relocation of the franchise requires a majority approval of the Board of Governors and the sale of the franchise would require a three-fourths majority.

“So I did the sensible thing, I combined the committees and said, `You guys figure it out.’ We’ll see how that works,” Stern said.

 

[pshn80]

This action today is what we have been expecting. And. it doesn't seem to change anything. Why a surge of pessimism? It always has been a huge task to mate whales and a city. Nothing has changed. kJ, the monied folks and the city government have a big task and they may make it and they may not. I'm optimstic but I also know we can lose out. Keep the right thought and buy tickets to see the Kings bad as they are. Go Kings.

 

[KingsFanatic]

Wow!!! I am actually shocked at the level of pessimism from some members of this board. If one has been following this story with any practical consistancy knows that Sacramento has better than a 50 50 shot at winning this thing; especially in knowing that possession is nine tenths of the law. It all comes down to Legit investors, an arena plan that is mostly in place and only eight no votes to reject the sale to Seattle. To me that is not impossible. If the NBA allows the team to leave in the face of that then DEUCES!!!! The league ain't worth fightin for. I would be done with professional basketball.

But I don't think that will be the case. Sacramento controls it's own destiny!!!

The silence is what scares me...Silence doesn't always mean that something good is happening....I try not to see something with views of optimism or pessimism, because neither one effects the outcome. I try and go with more of a gut feeling. Can my gut feeling be wrong? absolutely, but the lens of reality can often get blurred if I allow too much optimism to take control of my emotions.

 

[sdballer]

The silence is what scares me...Silence doesn't always mean that something good is happening....I try not to see something with views of optimism or pessimism, because neither one effects the outcome. I try and go with more of a gut feeling. Can my gut feeling be wrong? absolutely, but the lens of reality can often get blurred if I allow too much optimism to take control of my emotions.

Its not the silence that scares me, it's if the eventual noise will even matter. Let's say Burkle and Mastrov put together a competitive offer and have an arena deal in place. What are the odds then that the BOG votes no? I think there is a lot of assumption in sac that all we have to do is have those two things come together and its done and I'm just not that confident in that.

 

[Section 101]

My primary worry came up when the word "whales" (plural) entered the conversation. I know it sounds impressive to have many whales wanting to keep the Kings here but if I were a whale, I wouldn't want to share decision making with anyone. In other words, what sounds like a positive is really a negative. Mastrov must want full control as he was the sole bidder for the Warriors I am assuming to battle against who won. Burkle seemed capable of buying and managing the Kings on his own. Can Burkle and Mastrov work it out between them? There's the rub.

It depends on how many whales KJ has lined up as I have heard the number as high as 5. That would be wonderful if 4 said they didn't want anything to do with the day to day managing of the Kings. Where's the fun in that? Know what I mean? KJ is dealing with people who are not used to taking second seat and now we'll see his political skills put to their biggest test.

Mastrov had a group of investors. He was the lead.

 

[Section 101]

I don't see it! How does the voting then work if they approve the sale? Nothing is defined with the combined committee.

http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2013/...le-group-has-officially-filed-for-relocation/

Because the sale takes a 3/4 vote the relocation vote is mute at 50/50. It's the whole Seattle package ownership\arena\market vs Sacramento.

 

[JB_kings]

Mastrov had a group of investors. He was the lead.

Mastrov will be the face of the ownership. Burkle is more of an investor type. Not a small one mind you. He stays very much out of the limelight. He's a polar opposite of the Maloof boys... in every sense.

 

[Section 101]

The silence is what scares me...Silence doesn't always mean that something good is happening....I try not to see something with views of optimism or pessimism, because neither one effects the outcome. I try and go with more of a gut feeling. Can my gut feeling be wrong? absolutely, but the lens of reality can often get blurred if I allow too much optimism to take control of my emotions.

Did you hear anything before the Anaheim relo board meeting? Nope. It was a bomb !!! It shocked the BoG meeting.

 

[Brac-o-matic]

Maybe I am taking crazy pills here, but I was energized by Stern's comments. With many in the national media counting Sacramento out (Woj, Ratto, and MANY others), it was great to hear David Stern basically say, "Hanson/Ballmer has filed for ownership change, and they have filed for relocation. But Sacramento is getting ownership and an arena plan together, and when they do, they have a real shot at keeping the team in town." At least that is how I heard it.

 

[D13]

I'm just posting this since I made it.

Great job on the vid!

 

[Dreadnought]

I will literally let anyone own the Kings as long as they stay in Sacramento, but I'd almost prefer Burkle have majority say. I like that he already lead the Penguins to a championship. I think he knows how to win.

 

[rainmaker]

I think it's pretty slim odds that the NBA won't approve it, And in the latest NBA article today, Stern was stating that the proposal(group to buy the Kings) looks very strong....So I'm thinking the chances are extremely slim that they will stay here...I have to think with my head and not my heart. My heart wants them to stay, but I think it's too late.... I can't let my emotions get in the way of what I think is going to happen.... It's been a fun ride though...

Why do you say you have to think with your head but haven't used that same head to educate yourself fully on the situation?

 

[rainmaker]

My primary worry came up when the word "whales" (plural) entered the conversation. I know it sounds impressive to have many whales wanting to keep the Kings here but if I were a whale, I wouldn't want to share decision making with anyone. In other words, what sounds like a positive is really a negative. Mastrov must want full control as he was the sole bidder for the Warriors I am assuming to battle against who won. Burkle seemed capable of buying and managing the Kings on his own. Can Burkle and Mastrov work it out between them? There's the rub.

It depends on how many whales KJ has lined up as I have heard the number as high as 5. That would be wonderful if 4 said they didn't want anything to do with the day to day managing of the Kings. Where's the fun in that? Know what I mean? KJ is dealing with people who are not used to taking second seat and now we'll see his political skills put to their biggest test.

From what I've read, Mastrov would run the team and Burkle would run the new arena and downtown plaza.

 

[lwc]

I think that is a great idea. Both are owners, both control something. No pride is hurt. Yee haw!